PANJIM: Trouble does not seem to end for Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar as Crime Branch which raided his house found heaps of matka slips hidden in a room.
CB Superintendent of Police Kartik Kashyap said that thousands of matka slips and books were found from an office, located in Kavlekar’s bungalow, and were seized during the raid. Kavlekar is accused of having assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
“During the search by Anti Corruption Branch (in the disproportionate case registered last week), its officers found an office inside the property where thousands of matka slips and books were found. The room along with other rooms were sealed and attached. The CB, after obtaining permission from the court, raided the office room and attached the materials. This shows that somebody was running full-fledged matka business from the premises,” he said.
The matka angle will now be investigated as a part of the main First Information Report (FIR) registered in 2015 against unnamed ministers, politicians, police officials, two newspapers, matka operators and over 1100 matka gambling bookies for indulging, protecting and profiting from the trade.
Kavlekar will now be investigated as part of the FIR booked under Sections 109, 120(B) read with Section 34, Sections 3,4,11 (2)(a) and 12(1)(a) of the Goa Gambling Act and Section (13) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. “Babu will be questioned soon,” Kashyap replied to a media question.
The High Court is monitoring the matka case that came following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Kashinath Shetye, who is also a government servant, nearly three years ago accusing the police of being hand-in-glove with matka bookies to allow the illicit business in Goa.
The court recently directed the State government to form a SIT under the chairmanship of a retired judge.
