From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi

Belagavi, Jul 10: The State Government is ready to order a CBI probe into the alleged cricket betting scam ramphant in several cities of Karnataka.

Replying to the demand by BJP opposition leader JagadishShettar in the State Legislative Assembly in Suvarna Soudha here on Friday, he said the State Government has no hesitation to seek a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

The Home Minister said steps have been taken to bust a cricket betting network in different cities of the State, though it has international link.

The police have already arrested bookies involved in the illegal betting case and a senior police officer too had been suspended.

The racket is well entrenched at the global level, as evidenced by arrested of bookies across the country.

He wanted to know why the BJP government at the Centre was reluctant to order a CBI probe into the racket.

Shettar alleged that betting racket spread across the State and the State Government had not initiated firm action to arrested bookies and police officers involved in the scam.

Instead of checking the racket, a case has been registered against a private television channel which conducted a sting operation on activities of cricketing bookies, the former chief minister said and wanted to know if the Government was shielding anybody.