The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched early-morning raids on Thursday at locations linked to Coimbatore businessman Santiago Martin, known as the “lottery king.” These searches targeted multiple locations in Tamil Nadu, Kolkata, and Sikkim, including Martin’s office and home in Coimbatore, and were conducted by ED officials from Kerala.
A total of 30 locations were searched throughout Thursday, with searches continuing into the evening. This action follows a recent court ruling that reopened an investigation into alleged money laundering linked to Martin’s lottery business.
Martin’s business reportedly donated over Rs 1,300 crore through electoral bonds to various political parties between 2019 and 2024. Two weeks ago, the Madras High Court overturned a previous court decision that had dismissed charges, directing further investigation.
The case dates back to 2012, when the Chennai Crime Branch seized Rs 7.20 crore from the home of Nagarajan, Martin’s associate. This cash, claimed to be proceeds from lottery sales by Martin and his wife, Leema Rose, prompted the Crime Branch to file an FIR against them under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, in 2022, the Crime Branch filed a closure report citing insufficient evidence, which the Alandur Judicial Magistrate accepted, closing the case.
The ED challenged this closure in the Madras HC, which criticized the Crime Branch’s investigation and ordered the case to be reopened. On October 28, the court ruled there was enough evidence for further inquiry, expressing doubts over the sudden closure decision. The HC pointed to fabrications used to launder illegal funds, including an allegedly fraudulent property sale involving backdated stamp papers.
Martin’s company, Future Gaming Solutions, is the master distributor for Sikkim’s state lottery. According to the ED, unauthorized lottery sales by the company led to substantial profits and financial losses of over Rs 900 crore for the Sikkim government. Last year, assets worth Rs 457 crore belonging to Martin were seized by the ED.
Complicating the case, the Election Commission reported that Future Gaming contributed more than Rs 1,300 crore in electoral bonds over the last five years. This financial link has raised concerns about Martin’s influence on political processes, especially in states where lotteries are heavily regulated or banned.
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