The Telangana government has taken a decision to set up Special Investigating Team (SIT) to act tough on online betting apps and rummy apps. The move was made following several complaints on social media influencers and celebrities.
We will set up a SIT either with CB-CID or take a call after reviewing with officials. There is also need to review punishments in such cases, said CM Revanth Reddy in Assembly.
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Not just the need for eradication of online betting apps and online rummy, the supply of banned items like gutka will also be looked into he said. Revanth Reddy said calling social media influencers and celebrities to police stations and questioning them is not the solution for the problem. Strict action on those maintaining and marketing these programmes is a permanent solution to the problem, he said.
Revanth Reddy said the SIT will have all powers to thoroughly investigate and take severe measures against those responsible. As there are links nationally and internationally, investigating in police stations is pointless, he said.
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We want to tell people how serious we are about eradicating betting and online gambling. Whatever is the involvement in online betting and crime, action will be taken, the CM said.
While the past government passed a Bill prohibiting online gambling in 2015, nothing much came out of it. There is a need for harsher penalties, as the present law only allows for two years in prison, said Reddy.
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He also revealed that the Act would be amended shortly.
When the opposition complained about the law and order situation in the state, the CM said it was during their term that Disha incident happened. He also reminded that a lawyer couple were brutally murdered on road and no action was taken when a six-yr-old girl was murdered in Singereni Colleries.
The CM said the state ranked 4th in terms of crime against women during previous government. Even when BRS leader’s son was involved in Jubilee Hills pub case, nothing was done, pointed out CM Reddy.
Revanth Reddy said law and order was given top priority in the last 15 months and orders were given regarding the MMTS case.
Following law and order, Revanth Reddy prophesied there wouldn’t be any by-elections or elections in the state till around 2029. Finally, he said he was available to leaders of all parties and looked into all problems that came to his notice.
