HC dismisses plea by accused arrested in lottery case

The Madras High Court has dismissed a criminal original petition filed by an accused arrested in connection with sale of fake lottery tickets in the Union Territory of Puducherry, challenging the order of cancellation of bail to them.
It also directed the Registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice to decide the desirability of ordering Vigilance Inquiry into the manner in which two accused in the case were granted bail by the incharge Magistrate which was later on cancelled by the Principal District Judge.
The court said: "The nature of allegations against the accused is that of manufacturing other States' lottery tickets illegally and selling them in Puducherry."

"It is not a case of genuine lottery tickets of other states being sold in Puducherry. But, the accused have arrogated to them, the power of the state and manufactured bogus lottery tickets for sale to gullible persons. Under such circumstances, the order passed by the Principal Sessions Judge, Puducherry, cancelling the bail is perfectly justified."
"When the Union Territory has initiated inquiry in the conduct of the Assistant Public Prosecutor, the High Court should not lag behind, but, conduct an inquiry on the conduct of the Judicial Magistrate, Puducherry, who granted bail to the accused en masse on 30.08.2010 in the absence of the regular Magistrate," the court said.

According to prosecution, two persons were arrested on July 7 in Puducherry after they were found in possession of lottery tickets of other states. During investigations, it was found that they were selling forged lottery tickets.