News Tamil Nadu

Did TN CM MK Stalin Commit Perjury In Case Linking DMK With Lottery Martin?

March 18, 2024
The Commune

In 2019, the then-DMK President MK Stalin filed a defamation suit against Tamil magazine Vikatan over an article alleging financial dealings with Lottery Martin. Stalin termed the allegations ‘fictitious’ and demanded ₹1.1 crore as compensation for damaging his reputation. The article claimed Martin’s close ties with the Karunanidhi family and accused him of funding the DMK and Trinamool Congress (TMC). Stalin denied these claims, stating, “The Plaintiff denies the allegation that the DMK party has received a huge amount as ‘donation’… It is shown by impeachable documents that the said Mr. Martin has never donated to the DMK party.”

Stalin emphasized the lack of journalistic ethics in the article, asserting, “The offending article is not an exercise of free speech or freedom of press. It is not grounded in journalistic ethics and has not followed first principles to verify the veracity of the article being published.” He further highlighted the adverse impact of the article on his reputation, noting, “The said offending article tends to defame, scandalize, lower and tarnish the Plaintiff’s image and reputation and that of the DMK party.”

Initially demanding ₹100 crore in compensation, Stalin reduced it to ₹1.1 crore to avoid “destroying the defendants’ company.” He also sought an unconditional public apology and retraction of the article from both the magazine’s next edition and its website. The lawsuit reflects Stalin’s determination to combat false allegations and protect his reputation amidst political scrutiny.

 

However, it has come to light, after the EC uploaded details of the electoral bonds as shared by the SBI (which issued the bonds) on its website, that the DMK indeed received donations over the years through bonds from Lottery Martin. Here are the details:

    • FY 2020-21: DMK received ₹60 crore from Future Gaming and Hotel Services and ₹20 crore from Megha Infrastructure.
    • FY 2021-22: Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated ₹249 crore to DMK, Megha Infrastructure provided ₹40 crore, Sun TV Network donated ₹10crore, and India Cements donated ₹4 crore. Another entity identified as “Triveni” donated ₹3 crore.
    • FY 2022-23: Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated ₹160 crore and Megha Infrastructure donated ₹25 crore.
    • April 2023 onwards: DMK received electoral bond money of ₹40 crores exclusively from Future Gaming and Hotel Services

This brings about the question of whether Stalin committed perjury in the case of 2019 where he claimed he never received any funds from Martin nor did the DMK. 

Lottery Martin And The DMK Connection

In the 1990s, lottery caused several families in TN to perish. At that time, Lottery Martin was a prominent figure especially known to be close to the DMK as reported in the newspapers. It was alleged that Martin was the biggest benami of the DMK first family and this was the reason why Jayalalithaa banned lottery in TN in 2003. 

He also produced a film called Ilaignan for about ₹20–50 crores. The film was in limbo and he came forward to have it up and running. Incidentally, the film was also Karunanidhi’s 75th film as a scriptwriter and it is alleged he was paid ₹45 lakh as a fee. According to a report in India Today, it is claimed that Karunanidhi’s involvement in Martin’s film projects may be linked to his leniency towards Martin’s illegal lottery business.

May 17 Movement founder Thirumurugan Gandhi, known for his hate speeches against Hindus particularly the Brahmin community as well as for his Dravidianist separatist ideology was often seen with Tyson, Lottery Martin’s son. It is alleged that Martin funded Gandhi to create “protestors” and create issues and controversies to enable the DMK to come to power. 

In 2022, allegations surfaced suggesting that the DMK was contemplating reintroducing the lottery system in Tamil Nadu as a gesture of gratitude towards Martin, who was purportedly credited with aiding the party’s ascent to power.

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