Officials of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) were allegedly attacked, confined and obstructed by an Indian gambling ship staff, Gambling News has reported. Goa’s Casino Pride’s staff members allegedly mistook government officials for criminals, which led to the incident.
The confrontation took place during a search operation regarding an ongoing money laundering investigation. The affected officials have filed a report against the staff members of Casino Pride and the management.
The complaint includes violations like assaulting a public servant, false imprisonment, and destruction of evidence. Probable court verdict against these accusations could result in several years of imprisonment. However, officials would have to dig into the details surrounding this case.
Raid was part of money laundering investigation
India Directorate of Enforcement assistant director Poluri Chenna Kesava Rao’s report describes how the raid started. The team started the raid as part of investigation into money laundering activities. ED officials’ team began the search at Casino Pride without disrupting its operations or harming employees and customers.
Officials seized electronic devices, documents, and cash believed to be linked to illegal activities during the initial stages of the search. However, the Casino Pride management allegedly entered the search premises without authorisation and questioned the legality of the investigation. The staff also refused to acknowledge the ED team’s official documentation.
Casino management accused the officials of conducting an illegal raid, threatening them with physical harm. The ED was forcibly evicted by the staff members from the search area. They were then detained in a separate room onboard the casino.
Rao and his associates were allegedly forced to delete evidence collected by the officials. The management also seized their mobile devices and ₹4.3 lakh identified as potential criminal proceeds. The staff threatened to keep detaining the officials if they did not comply with demands.
“Casino staff, through their actions, obstructed officials from discharging their lawful duty, threatened officers with violence, behaved inhumanely, and destroyed evidence,” said Poluri Chenna Kesava Rao ED assistant director.
The Panaji police has launched an official investigation into the incident. Rao complained that the casino staff’s actions are an obstruction of justice and asked officials to do the needful. The raid was part of broader efforts to crackdown on illegal gambling in the country and related crimes like money laundering. It comes as India continues its control and regulate its gaming sector.
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