Bust exposes cracks in Canacona’s policing; deals a blow to Tawadkar’s assertions that gambling had been eradicated from the constituencyBUNGALOW USED AS GAMBLING DEN
Basuri Desai
PANJIM: In a major development following the sensational raid on an illegal gambling den in Xelim near Goa-Karnataka border, the Canacona Police on Saturday interrogated Ligorio D’Souza, the man allegedly managing the premises where the illicit operations were taking place.
D’Souza was questioned for over an hour by Investigating Officer PSI Ajit Velip.
The interrogation comes in the wake of a dramatic late-night raid earlier this week led personally by Superintendent of Police (South Goa) Tikam Singh Verma. The operation, carried out between Monday and Tuesday, uncovered a high-end gambling racket flourishing right under the nose of the Canacona Police. Forty individuals were arrested and illegal assets worth Rs 16.35 lakh were seized, including Rs 5.20 lakh in cash, 40 mobile phones, playing cards, a computer, and a vehicle.
Police said, the gambling den was operating from a bungalow belonging to Thelma, who is abroad
Thelma had handed over bungalow possession to Ligorio D’Souza
It is learnt that the arrested accused have confessed that gambling operations were headed by Ligorio
Sources suggest that the Canacona Police had prior knowledge of the illegal operations, but failed to act until SP Verma intervened
The inaction of local police has now come under scrutiny, given the scale and audacity of the gambling operation
What was once believed to be a vanquished vice in Canacona has resurfaced with greater intensity, exposing the cracks in Canacona’s policing
POLICE INACTION UNDER SCRUTINY
Sources suggest that the Canacona Police had prior knowledge of the illegal operations, but failed to act until SP Verma intervened
The inaction of local police has now come under scrutiny, given the scale and audacity of the gambling operation
What was once believed to be a vanquished vice in Canacona has resurfaced with greater intensity, exposing the cracks in Canacona’s policing