The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Margao, has acquitted an accused in a matka gambling case after finding the prosecution’s evidence insufficient to establish the charges.
According to police, the accused was allegedly caught accepting matka bets near a hotel on Old Station Road, Margao, where cash and gambling materials were reportedly seized. However, during the trial, the court found several gaps in the prosecution’s case.
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The magistrate observed that no bettors were apprehended at the site, no independent witnesses were examined, and the term “matka” itself was not clearly defined or explained during the proceedings.
Emphasising that mere presence at the scene does not constitute proof of guilt, the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt and consequently acquitted the accused for lack of evidence.
