Goa Minister questions casino operators

The authority believes that casino operators are influencing and infiltrating political elections.

India.- Goa Revenue and Information and Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte is claiming that casino operators in Goa are trying to “infiltrate and influence” Lok Sabha elections by enrolling casino employees into electoral rolls.

The Minister wrote his complaint to the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Saturday. A day later, he said that casino owners are engaging in mass enrollment as they want to influence government policy on the casino industry in the future.

Khaunte told local media that the CEO has to probe all areas where casino clusters exist, The Hindu reported. This would be an attempt to see if casino employees are being massively involved into the electoral rolls in Goa.

“I have already filed a complaint with the CEO after I found 820 names of casino employees in my constituency of Porvorim. All the new additions have been routed through one internet protocol (IP) address,” Khaunte said.

“The mass enrollment is aimed at influencing Lok Sabha and other elections in order to elect politicians who are favourable to the casino lobby. The probe should also include all other areas of Goa wherever there are casino operations,” he added.