From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 14: With allegations over the proliferation of illegal lottery ticket racket, especially the single digit lottery, Karnataka has ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the illegal trade across the State.

Karnataka Home Minister K J George, who chaired a meeting of senior police officers of the City on Thursday, said the State Government had acted swiftly after a section of an electronic media reported about the proliferation of illegal lottery operations in the State, which has been banned in the State.

The Home Minister said a police officer has been suspended following the media report and arrested one person, who was said to be a kingpin behind the lottery menace.

JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamyhad alleged that the State Government has been encouraging illegal lottery racket.

A Kannada TV channel aired a sting on the illegal lottery racket leading to the ordering of a preliminary inquiry by the State Government.

The CID has been directed to submit an interim report into the alleged lottery operations in 10 days. Lottery business had been banned in the State.

On the charges levelled by Kumaraswamy that he (George) was also involved in the lottery business, the Home Minister challenged the JD(S) leader to prove charges against him by providing documents before the CID.

George said the Lottery Enforcement Wing, which was facing an acute shortage of staff, had been merged with the Police Department.

The regular police personnel has been given powers to crackdown illegal lottery operations.

The State Government has decided to book habitual offenders involving chain snatching and robberies under the Goonda Act to prevent crime in Bengaluru.

The Home said police officers of the Deputy Commissioners of Police rank would be given powers to book cases against habitual offenders under the Goonda Act and put the offenders behind bars for one year.