The deal between Leela hotels and Golden Globe hotels to buy off shore casino in Goa has hit another roadblock.
The off shore casino owned by Hotel Leela Ventures is in process to be transferred to Golden Globe Hotels which has been asked to close its operations with immediate effect.
The state home department, which is licencing authority for off shore casinos in the state, has asked Leela to pay Rs 5 crore annual licence fee or face the closure of casino operations, rejecting the operators request to grant additional time to pay fees.
M/s Hotel Leela Ventures is hereby directed to close the operations of off shore casino on M V Leela with immediate effect, an order signed by state under secretary (Home) Siddhivinayak Naik on October 6.
Leela had to pay the licencing fee for the year 2009-10 on or before September 26, 2009, the order reads.
The government records confirm that Leela is in the process of handing over the off shore Casino to Golden Globe Hotels and deal is approved on paper by the state government.
