Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday pulled up the Crime Branch (CB) which is investigating the matka nexus case. The court said if the CB was unable to unearth the matka nexus then the court may direct the CBI to take over.
The court also asked the investigating agency to submit a report on the investigation carried out by them.
The High Court was hearing the petition filed by social activist Kashinath Shetye against the matka trade. The next hearing will be held on October 10.
Shetye argued that the CB was not competent to investigate the case and demanded that investigations be handed over to CBI. He also alleged that Goa Police officers are linked with the trade and accepting bribes from matka agents. Shetye, in his petition, alleged the involvement of terror outfits like ISIS, and accused Goa Police of deliberately concealing the source of matka numbers. He said he also suspected that revenue generated from the trade was being pumped for terror activities.
CB had filed an FIR against Goa politicians, police officials, two newspapers, over 1100 matka gambling bookies and masterminds of a gambling operation based in Gujarat. The FIR was filed on the directions of the High Court.
