Mumbai-based matka queen Jaya Chadda was arrested in Goa late Friday. Jaya, the widow of Kalyan matka operator Suresh Bhagat, was apprehended as part of a major crackdown on matka gambling by the Goa Police Crime Branch.
Multiple raids were conducted in Panaji, Mapusa, Porvorim, Margao, Vasco, Ponda, Mandrem, and Pernem, resulting in the arrest of top matka operator Jaya Chadda along with Chandubhai Thakkar alias “D’sa,” Ghanshyam Bhai, and 12 other bookies.
The police registered 13 cases across Goa, booking several agents, bookies, and the matka operator Jaya Chadda. The Goa police filed 12 FIRs under Section 11(2)(a) of the Goa Prevention of Gambling Act and Section 112 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against 15 accused at five police stations.
While Jaya Chadda operates the main Kalyan Matka network from Mumbai, Thakkar and Ghanshyam manage the Main Bazaar Matka operations in Gujarat, primarily active at night. Notably, Jaya is the widow of the notorious matka king Suresh Bhagat, who was killed in a staged accident allegedly involving Jaya and her boyfriend.