In a heart-wrenching plea, Kamal Bherwani, a former New York City official, has publicly blamed the Mohegan Sun casino for the fentanyl-related death of his son, Kavi Bherwani. The tragic incident, which was captured on video, has sparked a fervent call from Bherwani for New York authorities to deny Mohegan Sun’s bid to open a new casino in the state.
Kavi Bherwani, who was 25 years old, was found dead after ingesting fentanyl-laced drugs at a party. Surveillance footage showed him purchasing what he believed to be a different substance from a dealer on the premises of the Mohegan Sun casino. The lethal transaction and subsequent events have led Kamal Bherwani to hold the casino accountable for his son’s untimely death.
“My son was a vibrant young man with his whole life ahead of him,” Kamal Bherwani said in an emotional statement. “He fell victim to the dangerous environment fostered by the Mohegan Sun, where drug dealers operate with impunity. This tragedy could have been avoided if the casino had taken its responsibility for safety more seriously.”
Bherwani’s demand comes at a critical time as the Mohegan Sun is vying for a new casino license in New York. The bid has been met with both support and opposition from various community groups and stakeholders. Bherwani’s powerful testimony adds a significant weight to the argument against the casino’s expansion.
“Allowing Mohegan Sun to open another establishment in New York would be a grave mistake,” Bherwani continued. “We cannot allow another family to suffer the way mine has. The state has a duty to protect its citizens, and that means rejecting this bid.”
The former official’s plea has resonated with many, igniting debates about the role of casinos in facilitating illegal drug activities and the measures needed to prevent such incidents. Advocacy groups and concerned citizens have joined Bherwani in calling for stricter regulations and oversight for existing casinos and any new ones under consideration.
Mohegan Sun has responded to the allegations by expressing condolences to the Bherwani family and asserting that they have strict anti-drug policies in place. However, the casino has not provided specific details on how they plan to address the security lapses highlighted by this tragic event.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Kavi Bherwani and extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family,” a spokesperson for Mohegan Sun stated. “We are committed to maintaining a safe environment for all our patrons and will review our policies to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future.”
The controversy surrounding the casino bid has also caught the attention of local lawmakers and regulatory bodies. Several officials have called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Kavi’s death and the broader implications for public safety in and around casino properties.
Bherwani’s campaign against Mohegan Sun’s expansion is expected to influence the decision-making process significantly. As the debate intensifies, the focus remains on ensuring that such preventable tragedies are not repeated, and that the voices of grieving families are heard and acted upon.
The next steps for Bherwani include mobilizing public support and continuing to pressure state officials to reject the casino bid. He remains steadfast in his mission to honor his son’s memory by advocating for safer environments and greater accountability for institutions like the Mohegan Sun.
In the face of personal tragedy, Kamal Bherwani’s resolve to fight for justice underscores a broader call to action for enhanced safety measures and corporate responsibility, ensuring that the loss of his son serves as a catalyst for meaningful change.