Chennai: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed a Bill to ban all forms of gambling in the state including online gambling on Tuesday. The government passed the Bill by making amendments to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963 with an aim to strengthen the provision and to make gambling a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
According to a report on the Indian Express, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra introduced the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill 2021 despite the Opposition's doubt over the capacity of police to tackle all online forms of gamblings.
However, the Home Minister said that the police are finding it difficult to tackle gambling and betting since the recent Karnataka High Court order at Dharwad restricted police from conducting searches on the premises of gambling dens.
The Minister also told the Assembly that there are gamblings taking on electronic devices and all forms of gambling should be controlled.
The Bill makes an amendment to prescribe a three-year jail term for gambling and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Earlier, the jail term was for one year. The law also exempts only betting for horse races.
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Earlier, Karnataka Assembly tabled a Bill to protect illegal religious structures built in public places. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai tabled the Karnataka Religious Structures (Protection) Bill 2021 in order to protect religious structures constructed in public places in the Assembly.
The move of the government followed the Karnataka order to demolish illegal religious structures on public land.
However, the Bill also set the day of passing as the cut-off date, and only structures built before the day will be protected from the High Court order.