The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations at 22 locations across Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Punjab, recovering Rs 12.41 crore, the central agency said in a statement on Monday.
The raids were part of an investigation into Santiago Martin and his entity, M/s Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited, along with other associates.
“During the search operations which are conducted under the provisions of PMLA, 2002, various incriminating documents, digital devices, Cash of Rs 12.41 Crore were recovered and seized, along with FDR of Rs 6.42 Crore has also been frozen,” the statement read.
The ED also found records of significant investments in immovable properties in Coimbatore, Chennai, Mumbai, Dubai, and London. Additionally, large investments in the stock market were uncovered.
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In a previous investigation conducted by ED in Kochi, it was found that Martin Santiago and his company had acquired Proceeds of Crime worth around Rs 920 crore in the lottery business, of which properties worth Rs 622 crore have been attached, and a Prosecution Complaint has been filed. The trial is currently underway, the agency said.
The ED’s investigation was initiated based on an FIR filed by the Meghalaya Police, following a complaint from the Director of Meghalaya State Lottery, as well as Kerala Police FIRs taken over by the CBI.
The main allegations against the group include “illegally capturing” the lottery market by blocking others from operating, selling fake lottery tickets, manipulating winning prizes, and purchasing large prize-winning tickets against cash payments to convert black money into white, leading to significant losses for the exchequer and the public.
It was also revealed that over 90 percent of the business of the company involves lottery tickets with a face value of Rs 6, most of which have prizes below Rs 10,000, which are non-taxable, according to the ED.
“No proper record is maintained by the company regarding prize winners, sold and unsold tickets. Lottery schemes are designed by the company in such a way that substantial profit goes to the Company and organizing state gets very small portion of the revenue,” the agency added.
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