After joining TMC, Kiran Kandolkar to launch Shakti Matka in West Bengal, alleges activist

PANAJI: Social and tribal activist Darshana Saxena has accused the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) of promoting criminals and illegal gambling (Matka) activities in Goa by inducting former Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar into its fold and giving him tickets for two constituencies.

Speaking to this journalist, Saxena said Kandolkar was raided by the Goa Crime Branch several times in the last few years. More than 5 persons associated with him were arrested and the cops sealed his properties as they were being used for Matka activity. There are many gambling cases pending against him, he is also involved in a murder case, Saxena claimed.

“The TMC which claims it wants to root out corruption has taken on a tainted leader and has promised him two tickets. Tomorrow if a wanted terrorist like Dawood Ibrahim offers to pump in Rs 100 crore for elections, the TMC will also take in Dawood’s candidates. Now that Kandolkar has joined TMC, Shakti Matka will start in West Bengal very soon,” Saxena said referring to the makta business by Kandolkar in North Goa.

Kandolkar, who is rumored to be the kingpin of the gambling and matka business in North Goa and allegedly controls all gambling rackets in the Bardez taluka, recently joined the All India Trinamool Congress party, along with his wife and several supporters. After he entered politics, he handed over the matka business to his trusted lieutenants and is only involved in the background, Saxena alleged.

In October last year, the Goa Crime Branch had raided an apartment at Khorlim near Mapusa city, owned by Kandolkar and seized gambling props, charts and Rs 50,000 in cash. Three persons were arrested by the Goa Police in the case. Kandolkar denied any role in the gambling racket, claiming he had rented the flat and did not know what was going on inside. He was summoned by the Crime Branch twice for questioning in the matter, but denied any knowledge of the illegal activity in his flat.

Coincidentally, Kandolkar’s residence where he lives with his family is a few meters away from the flat where the gambling activity was going on.

Kandolkar who started off about 20 years ago as a taxi driver, ran a motor garage at Morod near Mapusa, before getting into the matka business. Today, he is rumored to own several benami properties, including commercial premises, shops and flats in North Goa, which are proceeds of his clandestine and illegal gambling business.

A few years earlier, on the directions of the Bombay High Court at Goa, the Goa Crime Branch had registered a first information report (FIR) against a politician by the name of Kiran from Tivim, an unidentified minister, other politicians, police officers, matka operators, 1,100 bookies and two newspapers in the alleged matka gambling case. Kandolkar was questioned by the cops but managed to wriggle out of the matter.

Kandolkar has denied all allegations against him, terming them politically motivated and part of a political vendetta against him. Read More Here