A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed one Avinash Mehrotra, who claims to offer financial advisory services seeking ban on online gambling and betting sites.
The petition states that online gambling is unregulated in India and that it should be banned.
While physical form of gambling and operation of gambling houses is illegal in India, there is no specific central law that addresses online gambling.
Taking advantage of this loophole, various gambling operators have set foot in India and are offering betting, gambling and wagering games such as Rummy, Fantasy Cricket etc.
The petition states that online gambling system is “a great place for carrying out hawala operations, laundering money, etc”, reported New Indian Express.
The petition also alleged, “In fact, it is submitted that Foreign Exchange laws, as well as Income Tax laws, are also likely being violated today by the online gambling websites”, reported New Indian Express.
Mehrotra while submitting that a similar plea was disposed by the Hon’ble High Court wherein direction was passed to the centre to take appropriate steps, nothing concrete has been done by the centre.
The petitioner also sought direction that the violators of the law be punished accordingly.