Crime Branch swoops down on matka

PANAJI rrThe first raid was conducted on Thursday night at Panaji where the Crime Branch arrested two persons red-handed while accepting matka bets. The arrested persons include Chandrashekar Gawas and Tulsidas Naik, who were caught near Nacional theatre and around the ferry point respectively. A car found in their possession has also been attached. rIn the second raid conducted on Friday, Crime Branch caught four persons at Sada, Vasco, while they were sorting matka gambling slips. While four of them were placed under arrest one Suraj Chodankar alias Balan is absconding. rThe four arrested include Hemant Palekar, Pavan Kolamkar, Kshitij Chari and Tushar Mandrekar. Cash of Rs 6,990 and other gambling articles found in their possession were attached. The four have been booked under Sections 3 and 4 of Section 11 (2) of the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 for ‘keeping a common gaming-house’ as they were caught while sorting matka slips. rAs against this, accused caught in Panaji are booked under Section 11 (2) of the Act for ‘playing money or other valuable thing with cards, dice and counters.