Last Thursday, officials of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) were allegedly attacked, confined, and obstructed by staff members of the offshore Casino Pride operating in the Mandovi River. The confrontation occurred during a search operation relating to an ongoing money laundering investigation. Although nobody got hurt, the floating casino’s staff may face serious accusations.
The Investigators Found Themselves in Deep Water
The affected officials filed a report against Casino Pride management and several staff members. The accusations include violations like assaulting a public servant, false imprisonment, and destruction of evidence. A possible court verdict for these violations could result in several years behind bars, although official investigations must first unravel the details surrounding this case.
India Directorate of Enforcement assistant director Poluri Chenna Kesava Rao’s report describes how the raid started on Wednesday as part of an investigation into money laundering activities. A team of ED officials and independent witnesses began the search at Casino Pride, taking care not to disrupt its operations or harm employees and customers.
During the initial stages of the search, officials seized electronic devices, documents, and cash believed to be linked to illegal activities. However, tensions escalated the next day as Casino Pride management allegedly entered the search premises without authorization. The staff reportedly questioned the legality of the search action and refused to acknowledge the ED team’s official documentation.
Casino Staff Face Serious Accusations
The situation rapidly spiraled out of control as casino management accused the officials of conducting an illegal raid, threatening them with physical harm and touting political connections in Goa and Delhi. Staff members then reportedly forcibly evicted the ED team from the search area and detained them in a separate room onboard the casino.
Rao and his associates were allegedly forced to delete critical evidence collected on two USB drives and a laptop used during the search. Casino management also seized their mobile devices, destroyed handwritten documents, and reportedly took back ₹4.3 lakh ($5000) identified as potential criminal proceeds. According to Rao, staff threatened to keep detaining the ED team unless they complied with demands.
Casino staff, through their actions, obstructed officials from discharging their lawful duty, threatened officers with violence, behaved inhumanely, and destroyed evidence.
Poluri Chenna Kesava Rao ED assistant director
The Panaji police have taken the matter seriously and launched an official investigation. Rao commented that the casino staff’s actions represented a significant obstruction of justice and would not go unanswered. The raid was part of broader efforts to clamp down on illegal gambling and related crimes like money laundering as India continues its efforts to reign in its gaming sector.
