the goan I network
MARGAO
With I-T sleuths raiding a matka agent in the commercial capital during the weekend, matka bookies across the commercial capital have shut down shutters and will resume their gambling operations only after April 23 election.
Most of the stalls which were once the hub of matka gambling now wear a deserted look, with the agents pulling down shutters, fearing that I-T sleuths and others may conduct further raids on bookies during the election process.
The I-T sleuths had descended in the city on Saturday last to raid an office of a prominent matka king pin, with the operation ending only in the wee hours of Sunday. Since then, terrified matka bookies had decided to lie low and most of the outlets accepting matka bets preferred to shut their stalls till April 23.
Sources, however, said that matka bets were accepted over the phone, while there were bookies who accepted bets on the sly. “We do not want to take risks any more with the election process underway and the campaign in the last leg. Today, the I-T has conducted the raid against a king pin, tomorrow some other agency may follow suit. Given that the election process is underway, we don’t want to take any risks,” a matka agent told The Goan.
