The state government is planning to seek legal opinion to ban online lottery companies of outside states, which have duped Maharashtra of crores of rupees, informed finance minister Sudhir Munguntiwar to the state Legislative Council on Friday.
“The online lottery companies from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Mizoram have duped the state for Rs 933 crore,” said the minister.
“We are seeking opinion from legal experts whether lottery companies from these states can be banned in Maharashtra,” he added.
He was speaking on the various queries raised by legislators on the loss suffered by the state due to online lottery.
The state government is also trying to trace the owners of these companies and the probe has been handed over to the Economic Offence Wing (EOW).
“If the need arises, we will hand it over to the CBI,” Mr Munguntiwar added.
According to state rules, it is mandatory for advance tax to be paid on all types of online lotteries in the state.
But the lottery companies challenged the rule legally and the court had given an interim stay on it. Taking advantage of it, the online lottery companies from outside states have duped the state for crores of rupees.
In the year 2009, the court lifted the interim stay and allowed the state government to collect the tax.
However, during the period 2007 to 2009, tax amount of Rs 933.14 crore has not been paid, he said.
Efforts are also being made to strengthen the Maharashtra state lottery, said Mr Munguntiwar.
