A senior police officer in the tourist state of Goa has defended his men going to casinos, saying the trips are like visiting temples and churches.

Some officers had recently been involved in controversies after attending a lavish off-shore casino party.

India's opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been campaigning against the casino culture, had termed the officers' behaviour as "shameful for the state".

"All these senior police officials partying onboard the casinos is a very shameful thing for Goa. The government has no administrative control on its officers," BJP general secretary Govind Parvatkar said.

However, the top police officer of the state B S Bassi has now defended his officers saying they did nothing wrong.

Bosco George, one of the officers who attended the casino party, said: "My DGP (the top police officer) has already said whether you go to a temple, church, restaurant or casino, these places are not illegal. His answer is like hitting a six against all the wild allegations that people are making against us."

The state is famous for its off-shore casinos. However, campaigners have been slamming the state for promoting gambling. In most parts of the country gambling is banned and is considered against the Indian culture.