Order probe into sale of banned lottery in Pondy: BJP leader

BJP state president V Saminathan in a statement said such dealers had earned over Rs 100 crore by selling lottery tickets without any accounts or remitting income tax.  Stating that the persons arrested were politically strong and wealthy people, Saminathan urged Lt Governor Kiran Bedi to order for a probe to find out the background of such persons irrespective of their party affiliation and seizure of their unaccounted money.

Saminathan alleged that the sale of banned lottery tickets was on in different parts of Puducherry with the support of police officials and added that money looted from the public were given back to them as ‘free gifts’ at the time of elections. 

Stating that ganja, gutka and panparag was being sold in Puducherry, particularly to students, the BJP leader urged that the godowns where such intoxicating substances are being distributed from should be shut down and proper action initiated against the anti-social elements. He also wanted proper steps to curb the sale of illicit arrack and toddy in several slum areas here. The BJP president said that some people were criticising the action of the Lt Governor who had given full freedom to all officers out of political differences.