Running betting websites may not be a safe bet anymore.
The Bombay high court on Wednesday directed the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to take necessary action against such sites within three months.
The court’s direction came in the light of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Abbas Shaikh who had taken exception to a website — www.betfair.com — that allegedly conducted betting activities related to the Indian Premier League. This year, the IPL begins on March 12.
Shaikh’s lawyer pointed out to the court that the joint secretary of the Maharashtra home department had written a letter to the director of CERT to block the website immediately in June 2009. However, the website was still not blocked.
The court asked Advait Sethna, counsel for the union government, as to why no action had been taken against the website. Sethna explained that the petitioner had not lodged any complaint with the CERT against the website.
Shaikh also sought a ban on several other betting websites and stated that since the IPL is around the corner, betting activities will be rampant. His lawyer also said that large-scale hawala transactions will take place if the sites are not blocked before the IPL starts.
The court however remarked that the IPL will take place every year and those who want to bet will do it. The judges have however asked the director of CERT to take action within three months and also directed Shaikh to file a complaint directly with CERT in order to block any website.
