11. Search warrant against premises used as common betting house
Feedback & supportA Magistrate or a police officer not below the rank of assistant superintendent on being satisfied, upon written information, and after any further inquiry which he thinks necessary, that there is good reason to believe that any place is kept or used as a common betting house may by warrant under his hand or by writing under his hand, as the case may be, authorise any person therein named, or any police officer, with such assistance, and by such force, as is necessary, by night or by day, to enter or go to that place and to search the place and all persons found therein, and to seize all books, documents, telegrams, writings, circulars, cards or other articles reasonably supposed to have been used or intended to be used as a subject or means of betting or wagering, or in connection therewith, and all moneys and securities for money which are found in that place or on any such persons, and also to detain all such persons until they and that place have been searched.
place
“place” means any house, office, room or building, and any place or spot, whether open or enclosed, and includes a ship, boat, or other vessel whether afloat or not, and any vehicle;
If any of the things or circumstances which are by this Act made presumptive evidence of guilt are found in such place, or on any person therein, every person therein shall be arrested and taken before a Magistrate’s Court or District Court to be dealt with according to law.
All books, documents, telegrams, writings, circulars, cards or other articles used as a subject or means of betting or wagering, or in connection therewith, and all moneys or securities for money, found in a common betting house, or on any persons found therein, or escaping therefrom, which a Magistrate’s Court or District Court is of opinion were used or intended to be used for betting or wagering, shall be declared by that Court to be forfeited to the State, and shall be dealt with accordingly.
common betting house
“common betting house” means —(a)any place kept or used for betting or wagering on any event or contingency of or relating to any horse‑race or other sporting event to which the public or any class of the public has or may have access;(b)any place kept or used for habitual betting or wagering on any such event or contingency as aforesaid, whether the public has, or may have, access thereto or not; and(c)any place used by a bookmaker for the purpose of receiving or negotiating bets or wagers on any such event or contingency as aforesaid whether the bets or wagers reach the bookmaker by the hand of the person placing the bet or his agent or the bookmaker’s agent or through the telephone or by post or by telegram or by any other means;