Satta racket: Role of Una police under scanner

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Una, November 16

The role of the Una police in the “satta” operations being run in the district is under the scanner.

Sources said in the recent past, the Una police had registered 80 cases against “satta” operators under the Gambling Act. Most of the cases were registered in the border areas of the district close to Punjab.

After many cases were busted, Sanjeev Gandhi, SP, had ordered an inquiry into the role of policemen posted in the areas where maximum cases of gambling were registered. The inquiry was being conducted by an Additional SP rank officer. The sources said active connivance of certain Una police officials had been found in the “satta” racket.

Sanjeev Gandhi admitted that an inquiry had been ordered in the gambling racket. He also admitted that involvement of some police officials was suspected.

Gandhi said the enormity of “satta” operations in the district could be gauged from the fact that in a single day, 24 cases were registered by a special team assigned the job. Since the offence under the Gambling Act was bailable, most of the accused were released. However, during interrogation the accused revealed that earlier they used to transfer money collected under the “satta” operations through bank. However, with the increased surveillance, they were transferring money in cash.

The police were also trying to investigate into the sources of wealth and hard cash acquired by the main accused arrested under the Gambling Act.

The SP said after the investigation was complete, action would also be initiated against the police officials involved in the racket.

What is satta?

Police sources said “satta” was an organised gambling racket being run at the pan-country level. It was being operated by the organised underworld. It is like a single digit lottery. People gamble on a single number and are promised about 10 times to 70 times the amount they invest. The money invested in the gambling racket is collected by agents who operate randomly. The award money is also paid to winners through these agents only. The agents operate from some shops or residential buildings and from the stalls of official lotteries being run by some states. Every day people invest on a single digit and winner number comes to the agents by the evening which is then conveyed to the investors. Investors collect award money from the agents and the agent transfers rest of the money to the main person operating the racket in Delhi. The entire business is being run on faith.

Police officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said persons running the “satta” racket had amassed huge properties without any known sources of income that were now under the scanner of the investigating agencies.

24 cases in a single day

• Sanjeev Gandhi, SP,  said the enormity of “satta” operations in the district could be gauged from the fact that in a single day, 24 cases were registered by a special team assigned the job. 
• Since the offence under the Gambling Act was bailable, most of the accused were released. 
• However, during interrogation the accused revealed that earlier they used to transfer money collected under the “satta” operations through bank. However, with the increased surveillance, they were transferring money in cash.
• Sanjeev Gandhi admitted that an inquiry had been ordered in the gambling racket. He also admitted that involvement of some police officials was suspected.