The Chandigarh Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has ordered an investigation into the role of 13 IPS officers in the online betting network in Punjab and Chandigarh. Three officers from Chandigarh and 10 from Punjab have been named in the online betting network.
Justice Kuldeep Singh (retired), chairman of the PCA batch, and Amarjot Singh Gill (retired IPS), member, ordered the investigation. The authority has sought reports from the SSP and the Income Tax Department. The next hearing will be held on December 2. The names of several bookies from Chandigarh have also surfaced in this online betting network. Investigating agencies are thoroughly investigating their roles and connections to the network. High Court lawyer Nikhit Saraf wrote a letter to Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to expose the role of police officers. A copy of the complaint was also sent to the Chandigarh PCA.
Investigation Report Requested from SSP and Income Tax
The PCA has requested an investigation report from the Chandigarh SSP and the Income Tax Department, detailing the findings so far. They have asked which police officers have been implicated in the online betting network. The PCA has clearly stated that the complete investigation report should be submitted soon so that further action can be decided.
Exposing an Online Betting Network
The Income Tax Investigation Wing exposed North India’s largest online betting network in September. During this operation, the IT team raided two locations in Chandigarh, Sectors 33 and 44. A four-day raid revealed that these two apartments belonged to the mastermind of online betting in Chandigarh and Punjab and his brother. The IT department claimed that this network was protected by police officers, but the names of those officers have not been released, nor has any action been taken. Despite the exposure of such a large network, the pace of the investigation is reportedly extremely slow, raising questions about the entire matter.
