NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday gave indication that another offshore casino could join the fleet of floating gambling houses anchored in river Mandovi, taking the total number of offshore casinos in the state to half dozen.
Speaking to media persons, Parsekar, who also holds the home portfolio, said that although no file has come before him from anyone seeking permission to set up a new offshore casino in the state, the government has expressed its opinion before the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court that if M/s Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd, pays the annual recurring fees to the government to the tune of Rs 40 crore to Rs 50 crore, and applies for the renewal of its offshore casino licence, then the same could be considered positively.
The particular licence was earlier in the name of M/s Hotel Leela Venture Limited and subsequently transferred to M/s Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd.
“The government will never consider applications for new offshore casinos in the state. However, this case pertains to renewal of an old offshore casino licence,” the Chief Minister maintained, observing that if the particular company pays the arrears to the government, and applies for renewal of the offshore casino licence, then the government cannot possibly reject the application. “And then we have to see that the state is also benefitted,” he added.
It was also informed that M/s Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd had filed a petition before the court, seeking a direction to quash and set aside the demand made by the government in respect of annual recurring fees towards the casino licence granted to it.
“The observations and findings of the court are binding on us,” said the Chief Minister.
Incidentally, M/s Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd has agreed before the court to pay the arrears to the state government, within a period of four weeks from date of the order, so as to enable the state government to take a decision to renew the casino licence.
The High Court, after hearing both the parties had disposed of the petition.