14-CRPIL-3-2021.doc Shailaja IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO.3 OF 2021 Bal Maharaj alias Santosh Dattatray Koli ] Petitioner versus Information Technology Ministry, Maharashtra] State and others ] Respondents ….. None for the Petitioner. Ms. S.N. Deshmukh, A.P.P, for Respondent – State. ….. CORAM : M.S. KARNIK & AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, JJ. DATE : 18th DECEMBER, 2025. P.C: 1. The present Public Interest Litigation seeks a relief for direction to respondent Nos.1 and 2 to ban the website and/or application in the name of “Kingsclub” and “Luckystar” whereby gambling racket is being operated in Kolhapur and neighbouring areas. Further direction is sought to respondent No.3 to initiate an inquiry to ind out the mastermind behind the gambling racket and after inquiry, appropriate action be taken against the accused persons. A complaint dated 24th February, 2020 has been made by the petitioner to respondent Nos.1 to 3. 1 of 2 SHAILAJA SHRIKANT HALKUDE Digitally signed by SHAILAJA SHRIKANT HALKUDE Date: 2025.12.20 10:31:18 +0530 14-CRPIL-3-2021.doc 2. The present Public Interest Litigation can be disposed of by directing respondent Nos.1 to 3 to look into the complaint dated 24th February, 2020. If there is substance in the complaint, appropriate directions be issued to all the concerned to take appropriate action against the persons who are involved in illegal gambling racket as alleged by the petitioner. It is open for the petitioner to pursue the matter before respondent Nos.1 to 3. 3. The Public Interest Litigation is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. [AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, J.] [M.S. KARNIK, J.] 2 of 2