Gandhinagar: The state govt said on Monday that the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) was accorded the status of a police station, enabling it to independently investigate organised crimes like cricket betting, illegal trading, drugs, prohibition violations, gambling, and human trafficking occurring outside Gujarat.
An official statement said that the SMC will operate under the direct guidance of director general of police (DGP) Vikas Sahay, ensuring confidentiality in investigations. The SMC operates from the state police headquarters.
Crimes related to cricket betting, illegal trading, drugs, prohibition violations, gambling, and human trafficking, both within and outside the state, will be registered at this new SMC police station and investigated by its teams.
Earlier in 2002, the state govt declared ATS as a police station. Now, like the ATS, SMC will be empowered to take active and effective measures against organised crime in Gujarat and the country, the statement said.
Govt said that since the SMC will be freed from the approval of local police stations and district-range heads, the investigation process will be expedited, allowing for strict action against criminals. The police station will independently investigate organised crimes occurring outside Gujarat.