Gopal Kanda's firm gives undertaking not to operate off shore casino

Panaji: Former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda's Golden Globe Hotels Private Limited today gave an undertaking to the Goa bench of Bombay High Court that it would not operate its off shore casino till the next hearing even if it was granted a licence by the state government.

The matter came up before a vacation bench of Justice Mahesh Sonak today when the government advocate informed the court that no renewal licence has yet been issued to the off shore casino run by Golden Globe Hotels.

Social activist Aires Rodrigues had earlier petitioned the Goa bench against renewing licence to Golden Globe Hotels, as the state Cabinet has already resolved not to give any more licences or renewals.

After hearing the government advocate, the High Court adjourned the matter to November 15.

Rodrigues, in his petition, alleged that the move of the state government to renew and grant off shore casino licence to Kanda's company was illegal and high-handed.

The petitioner had drawn the High Court's attention to a Cabinet decision taken by the Goa government in 2013 not to renew the expired licences of casinos.

The HC had last week issued notices to Goa government and the hotel company owned by Kanda on the plea challenging the state government's decision to renew the licence to the firm which owns an off shore casino anchored near here in Mandovi river.