Matka is being played openly throughout the state and it is not the hidden fact anymore. The recent raid on one of the Matka den in Candolim had surfaced the existence of big time gambling activity in the state, but the Chief Minister of Goa who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio has made a claim in the Goa Assembly today saying that there is no Matka Centers (dens) in Goa. On what basis our Hon’ble CM made this claim? Read the complete report here.
[su_expand more_text=”READ MORE” less_text=” ” height=”0″ hide_less=”yes” link_style=”button” link_align=”center”] The recent raid of crime branch on the Matka den at Candolim had unearthed the penetration of Matka in the state. According to the sources, the said Matka den at Candolim was being operated by a person called Mohsin Shaikh who is directly connected to the Matka mafia in Mumbai. But the chief minister of Goa has ruled out the complete possibility of the existence of Matka centers in Goa.
Read: The Gambling Den Run by Local Politician was raided by Crime Branch Goa
According to the sources, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar made the statement in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that there was no “matka center” operating in the state even though the Bombay high court at Goa is overseeing a police probe into the matka gambling lobby, politician, and police nexus.
Mr. Parsekar was replying to the question of Goa Vikas Party MLA, Francisco Pacheco from Nuvem who claimed in the house that Matka is illegal gambling. The chief minister in a written reply during question hour, said, “There are no matka booking centers in the State. However, whenever matka gambling activities are noticed or upon receipt of reliable information, cases are registered by the police authorities under appropriate provision of law,” said Parsekar
Read: Police, Politician involvement in illegal gambling nexus busted in Goa
According to the sources, Matka has gained immense popularity in the state – rural as well as urban – during past two decades. The matka industry in Goa is pegged at several thousand crores of rupees and several legislators and ministers in successive state government had demanded its legalization.
Read: Crime Branch of Goa Police raided Matka den in Candolim
It is very difficult to justify the statement made by CM on the floor of Legislative Assembly today. If according to the CM there are no Matka centers in Goa then where the does the daily bookings of Matka take place? Are we closing our eyes to the reality? What example do the Legislatures and appointed public representatives are trying set? The question had been raised by Pacheco calling the gambling illegal who himself had faced the legal action due to his involvement in the fight at the Casino. Are these our representatives whom we gave the authority to make laws on our behalf? Please do not forget to leave your comments on this serious issue.
Source: TNN
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