Maharashtra police may invoke organised crime laws to nail bookie

The police in the Maharashtra state in India are taking a hard line in a case against local bookmaker Sonu Jalan, who has been arrested on charges of involvement in illegal online gambling, The crime branch in Thane is considering charges under the much tougher Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act rather than gambling laws in view of Jalan’s alleged history of repeat offending.

If the organised crime legislation is used, it will be the first such application in gambling in the country, according to local media reports.

A senior police official said that under MCOCA, the accused will not be able to get bail for a year, and if convicted could face imprisonment for life.

Jalan’s mobiles and laptops have been seized for examination by the police, and investigators are reportedly deciphering the code names therein to identify associates; early reports indicate that over a hundred bookies were in contact with Jalan.

“We are currently decoding their names as the betting circuit uses certain codes to maintain their confidentiality,” a police spokesman revealed. “In the next few days the others will be summoned for questioning.”

Meanwhile, Jalan has been remanded to police custody until June 2. He is defending the case and was denied bail whilst investigations continue.