Excerpt from Mid-Day, reported by Shiva Devnath on 2010-05-18 : Read Full Article
This illegal game of betting is thriving in the city after the death of Suresh Bhagat, though on a smaller scale
Though the matka king Suresh Bhagat may be dead and long gone, and his kin languishing in prison, it seems business as usual for the habitual matka player in the city. And, if sources are to be believed, it’s none other than the police who are in charge, and making the most of it.
 |
| BUSINESS AS USUAL: A matka operator places a bet. Pic/Shiva Devnath |
MiD DAY did a check at various areas in the city and learnt that matka is still rampant, chiefly in Chembur, Malvani and Oshiwara. To top it all, large amounts of money is put on bet, for, as they say, “mera number kab lagega”.
Chembur camp near Inlaks hospital at Chembur (E): The matka den is owned by one Kara Sheth. When this correspondent visited area, he found around 100 people were playing matka. Goons were keeping an eye on the police. The area was dark so as not to raise suspicion. The reporter finally got to a small room, where one person was writing down numbers, as asked for by the players, on chits of paper and putting them inside a matka. The winning number fetches around Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. In the process, the police also allegedly get their commission.
May 19, 2010 at 7:03 pm
MAY I ASK THE AUTHOR OF THIS NEWSLETTER ONE SMALL THING, WHAT DOES OUR MUMBAI POLICE GET IN RETURN WHEN HE IS SHOT DEAD IN A TERRORIST/GANGWAR
AND HOW GOOD WE ARE AT PAYING A FAT SUM AS SALARY TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. WEREIN WE ARE REGULARILY PAYING OUR TAXES SO THAT THESE SOLDIERS ARE BENEFITTED
IF THE ANSWER IS YES WE PAY THEM SUFFICIENT AMOUNT FOR THERE FAMILIES TO SURVIVE THEN WE SHOULD PUT A EAR TO THIS NEWS
IF NOT KINDLY RESOLVE THEIR FINANCIAL CONDITION AND THEN TALK.