While Tamil Nadu journalists and news media outlets have been vocal in labeling the Electoral Bonds introduced by the BJP as a scam and corruption, they remained conspicuously silent when the ruling DMK government received a significant portion of its electoral bond purchases from Santiago Martin, known as the Lottery Kingpin. Between 2019 and 14 November 2023, the DMK received a staggering ₹656.50 crore worth of electoral bonds, out of which ₹509 crore originated from Martin. Martin’s companies have been under investigation by agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since 2016 for alleged lottery fraud across multiple states.
However, what news media outlets like TNM won’t mention is that Future Gaming and Hotel Services contributed ₹60 crore in 2020-2021, ₹160 crore in 2022-2023, and ₹40 crore from 2023 till now. Additionally, the largest contribution of electoral bonds from Martin to the DMK, amounting to ₹249 crore, took place during the 2021-2022 financial year, coinciding with crucial Assembly elections in April 2021 and urban local bodies in February 2022. Despite the party receiving donations through electoral bonds since 2020, the media’s response to these transactions has been noticeably subdued compared to their scrutiny of similar issues involving the BJP.
When the DMK came to power in May 2021, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram hinted that the TN state government might consider reintroducing the sale of lottery tickets to bolster revenue. However, this suggestion faced significant backlash, leading to silence on the matter. While discussing the statements, he also pointed out instances of illegal lottery ticket sales across various regions of Tamil Nadu. Media outlets have reported instances where law enforcement confiscated prohibited lottery tickets in the state. This indicates the considerable influence wielded by the lottery lobby in Tamil Nadu.
It is a known fact that earlier lottery tickets sale in Tamil Nadu resulted in perishing of families, akin to the current severity of liquor addiction in the state.
Reports confirm that Martin has been associated with senior DMK leaders in Tamil Nadu and is seen as someone close to them. Notably, Tamil Nadu’s former Advocate General PS Raman represented Martin in a case in the Kerala High Court, despite objections from the then Chief Minister of Kerala.
Following the ascension of ex-AIADMK chief and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to power in 2011, her government initiated a crackdown on DMK leaders and their supporters. Martin, along with some DMK leaders, faced legal actions related to fraud and land grabbing. He was subsequently arrested and imprisoned in Vellore in 2012.
.@MaridhasAnswers ji made this detailed video 2 years back about the nexus between Lottery King Martin and DMK and how it will spoil the lives of TN people and make one family rich. But even he was unable to predict that Martin had to bribe DMK to get it done. Please do watch and… pic.twitter.com/0MLmsIYnyq
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) March 18, 2024
However, Martin underwent an image makeover and made substantial contributions to the state treasury during times of disasters, notably during Cyclone Gaja in November 2018, where he donated ₹ 5 crore for relief efforts. He also made significant contributions during Cyclone Vardah in 2016 and the Chennai floods in 2015. However, he is under suspicion for murder and faces allegations of involvement in scams across three states, namely Karnataka, Sikkim, and Kerala, relating to the illegal sale of lotteries, which are currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
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