Panaji: Hours after Goa Forward party MLA Vijai Sardesai raised the issue of illegal live gaming on the on shore casinos in the state, Goa Crime Branch raided a casino at Candolim village arresting eleven persons.
Sardesai while speaking during demands for grants for Home Department had pointed out that the on shore casinos were indulging in live-gaming, which is allowed only on off shore casinos.
The Fatorda MLA had even tabled a video of a sting operation in one of the on shore casinos where clients were seen playing live games.
On Wednesday, Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta, in a media statement here, said that they have busted an illegal card gambling operation during a raid at a casino in Candolim, arresting 11 persons who were allegedly caught red-handed while playing a game of chance known as ‘Andhar Bahar’, officials said on Wednesday.
The raid was conducted in the early hours of August 6 at Puppys Casino Gold in Candolim, Bardez, following a tip-off, Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta said in a press statement.
The FIR, registered under Sections 3 and 4 of the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976, was based on a state complaint filed by Police Inspector Tushar Lotlikar of the Crime Branch, he said.
As per the information, those arrested include individuals from various parts of the country including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Bihar, and Goa. Among those nabbed were the casino’s dealer and shift manager, police said.
The accused were allegedly found operating or participating in the live card game, Gupta said.
“During the raid, police seized gambling equipment worth approximately Rs 35 lakh, including a live gambling table, playing cards, electronic display screens, gambling chips, and a shuffler shoe,” he said.
