Claims years of raids and arrests failed to uncover the financiers, organisers and alleged protectors behind illegal gambling network
PANAJI
More than a decade after a public interest litigation (PIL) raised allegations of an illegal matka gambling network before the High Court of Bombay at Goa, the petitioner has argued that the State’s investigation has failed to identify who continues to keep the business running despite years of police action.
Opposing a proposal to close the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, Kashinath Shetye told the High Court on Monday that while the investigation led to arrests and criminal cases, it did not uncover the larger network allegedly sustaining the gambling trade across Goa.
Network still active
In objections filed before the court, Shetye said the continued detection of matka operations in different parts of the State shows that the problem remains unresolved. He argued that the SIT focused mainly on those accepting bets and running daily operations, while failing to investigate the alleged financiers, organisers and protectors behind the network.
He contended that if years of raids, prosecutions and a dedicated SIT have not stopped gambling activities from resurfacing, serious questions must be asked about whether the investigation ever reached the higher levels of the alleged network.
Shetye also questioned the independence of inquiries into allegations against police personnel. He argued that investigations carried out within the same policing system created a perception of conflict of interest and reduced public confidence in the findings.
Follow the money
Another major shortcoming, he claimed, was the lack of a thorough financial investigation. According to his objections, Goa Police did not conduct a comprehensive exercise to trace money generated through gambling operations, including scrutiny of bank accounts, assets, suspicious transactions, benami holdings and alleged illegal payments.
The petitioner further alleged that authorities failed to examine whether proceeds from matka gambling were being routed through hawala channels or other concealed financial networks.
Closing the SIT at this stage, Shetye argued, would leave the key concerns raised in the PIL unresolved. He said the case has wider implications for public trust in institutions responsible for enforcing the law.
Independent probe sought
Seeking further intervention from the court, he has requested the formation of an independent committee headed by a retired High Court judge to investigate the continued operation of illegal matka gambling and identify those allegedly financing, facilitating or protecting the activity.
As an alternative, the petitioner has sought the transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation or another independent agency to examine allegations of protection money collections and the alleged nexus between gambling operators and public officials.
