PANAJI
Three online gamblers, whose arrests in January 2022 exposed how on the pretext of electronic gaming secret information were leaked overseas, have been charge-sheeted under the Gambling Act despite the FIR being booked under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act and Information Technology Act.
Ironically, two persons for whom they were operating have been let out of the case even as they are currently lodged in Judicial lock-up for money laundering.
Shashank Siddharth, Rajnish Kumar and Anup Palod were arrested by the Porvorim police. The raiding sleuths had also seized electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops, computers, gaming chips and cash all worth Rs 25 lakh. The case was thereafter transferred to the Crime Branch due to international connection with the State also appointing a government counsel to assist the investigation.
In June the Directorate of Enforcement filed a Prosecution Complaint against Hardeep Singh and Ankur Khanna before the Special Court (PMLA) in Mapusa, Goa under the provisions of PMLA, 2002.
The ED initiated the investigation based on the FIR "for illegal gaming activities and siphoning huge money through secret networks and thus causing loss to the exchequer of the Government."
The investigation by the ED revealed that both were operating a union, namely ‘Mini-India’ on PP Poker, an online gaming app. Under their union, around 25 to 30 clubs are being operated by different individuals.
The Special Court, taking cognisance of the complaint on June 17 issued notices to the accused persons.
