PANAJI
The state government has sought more time from the High Court of Bombay at Goa to consider whether Goa Lokayukta can monitor the functioning of the Special Investigating Team constituted to investigate matka cases as ordered by the HC in July this year.
Stating that the government wishes to examine the provisions of the Goa Lokayukta Act and Rules to ascertain whether the course of action is feasible and appropriate, the public prosecutor informed the HC that the former retired HC judge selected to monitor the SIT probe has now expressed difficulty to be associated with the same.
"It is not clear to us whether the state government had made a formal request in that regard to the learned retired judge that he has declined. Be that as it may, since the order dated July 19, 2017 refers to a former judge of HC to monitor the special investigation and that as stated by the PP, the judge is not available, a solution will have to be found out," the state government's application reads.
As per the HC order, a four-member SIT was constituted comprising Superintendent of Police Bossuet Silva, police inspector Krishna Sinari, sub-inspector (Anti Terrorism Squad) Akshay Gaonkar and sub-inspector (special branch) Vaman Naik.
Former HC Judge, Justice A P Lavande had earlier accepted, in principle, to monitor the investigation.
The HC order was in response to a petition filed by Kashinath Shetye seeking thorough investigation into matka gambling in Goa and identification of the origin of the matka numbers so as to weed matka out.
The state government has sought more time from the High Court of Bombay at Goa to consider whether Goa Lokayukta can monitor the functioning of the Special Investigating Team constituted to investigate matka cases as ordered by the HC in July this year.
Stating that the government wishes to examine the provisions of the Goa Lokayukta Act and Rules to ascertain whether the course of action is feasible and appropriate, the public prosecutor informed the HC that the former retired HC judge selected to monitor the SIT probe has now expressed difficulty to be associated with the same.
"It is not clear to us whether the state government had made a formal request in that regard to the learned retired judge that he has declined. Be that as it may, since the order dated July 19, 2017 refers to a former judge of HC to monitor the special investigation and that as stated by the PP, the judge is not available, a solution will have to be found out," the state government's application reads.
As per the HC order, a four-member SIT was constituted comprising Superintendent of Police Bossuet Silva, police inspector Krishna Sinari, sub-inspector (Anti Terrorism Squad) Akshay Gaonkar and sub-inspector (special branch) Vaman Naik.
Former HC Judge, Justice A P Lavande had earlier accepted, in principle, to monitor the investigation.
The HC order was in response to a petition filed by Kashinath Shetye seeking thorough investigation into matka gambling in Goa and identification of the origin of the matka numbers so as to weed matka out.
