PANJIM: Goa government on Monday informed the High Court of Bombay in Goa that the matka case would be probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after its formation under a retired High Court judge.
State Advocate General Dattaprasad Lawande informed the division bench that the State is willing to appoint Justice (retd) A P Lawande as chairman of the SIT. The government will reply to the HC next Monday after Lawande’s consent is obtained and the list of officers for the team finalised.
Petitioner Kashinath Shetye, who appeared personally in the matter, told the court that he has no objection if Lawande is appointed as chairman of the SIT. Shetye was pressing for the transfer of the case investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleging Crime Branch is conducting minor raids to create eyewash, as they have failed to trace the source of origin of the matka numbers.
Shetye had filed a PIL alleging that police and politicians were conniving with matka agents operating in Goa.
Following the court’s direction, the Crime Branch had registered an FIR against police, politicians and others. The case is currently being monitored by the High Court following allegations by Shetye that the police are not tracing the source of the matka.
