Team Herald
PANJIM: Displaying amazing alacrity in acting on a general complaint, escalated to an FIR ordered by the police top brass in 24 hours, a Crime Branch (CB) team conducted widespread searches at offices of Herald’s sister channel HCN on Thursday evening. The complainant Advocate Rajeev Gomes alleged that an illegal ‘Mexican Housie’ show was being telecast on the channel which he happened to witness on two recent occasions, followed by spot checks at the agents, which made him almost conclude that the show was illegal and fell into the same bracket as a “matka operation”.
HCN management which cooperated with the search party, wasn’t questioned or statements taken.
The team comprised Police Inspector Rajendra Prabhudesai who is the investigating officer, PI Dattaguru Sawant and Cyber Cell PI Rajesh Job among others.
The search that began around 7.30pm went on for almost three hours while the entire operation came to the close past midnight. The hard disk of HCN as well as the disk containing the Herald groups entire accounting software has been seized by the cyber cell of the Goa police
In his complaint Gomes alleged that HCN was operating a Mexican Housie which is illegal as it is in violation of the Goa Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976. The complainant has accused the publication and the HCN channel, its subsidiary arm of running a common gaming house.
It is important to note that the Crime Branch had conducted a preliminary inquiry a month ago which revealed that no technical offence was made out in the gaming operations of HCN. The management of Herald has assured the Crime Branch of complete cooperation and assistance in the operation
The complaint was filed on Wednesday whereas the FIR was registered on Thursday following which the CB team searched the HCN offices. The search team left after a panchanama was conducted in the presence of panch witnesses.
