JMFC Margao stopped proceedings against Neeraj Jain, a native of Delhi residing at Colva, Salcete in a matka case after discovering that the evidence was insufficient to convict him.
According to the prosecution, Neeraj was caught accepting bets on 7 December, 2018 near Joseph Restaurant, Colva and was charged under the Public Gambling Act.
During the course of the hearing it came to light that there was not enough evidence to convict the accused and arguments for stoppage of proceedings were initiated under Section 258 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The judgement, dated 8 April, noted that although Neeraj was charged with accepting matka bets, nowhere in the Act is the game of matka defined. It further emphasized that mere acceptance of money and issuing to slips cannot be termed as gambling activity. Therefore the offence against the accused is not made out.
While Advocate Vernekar appeared for the accused, the state was represented by APP R Dessai.
Goa Law 
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