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What The Likes Of TNM, Zubair, And Other Dravidianist Media Won’t Tell You About Lottery Martin

March 15, 2024
The Commune

The name Lottery Martin or Santiago Martin and Future Gaming and Hotel Services has been making the news ever since the Election Commission uploaded details of the Electoral Bonds on its website on 14 March 2024. 

It has been revealed that the entity made political contributions amounting to ₹1,368 crore between 12 April 2019, and 24 January 2024. Martin maintains close affiliations with various political parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala, Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, and the Congress party.

But not many seem to know who this Lottery Martin is nor will the likes of The News Minute or alleged fact-checker Mohammed Zubair or other Dravidianist media tell you about him. 

Reporting By Fact-Checkers & Dravidianist Media

Fact-checkers like Zubair or The News Minute have been reporting scantily on the connection of Lottery Martin with the DMK. They are more keen on establishing all links to the BJP only. Be it The News Minute or Zubair, they are very much interested in all things irrelevant rather than focusing on how Lottery Martin had been close with the TMC, the DMK, the Congress or the Communists.

In an article by The News Minute on Lottery Martin, they wrote just one paragraph about one of the biggest donor when it came to electoral bonds.

It seems that the likes of them are in a hurry to establish the BJP connection with each one of the donors.

Since they will not tell you the truth, we present to you the rise of Santiago Martin or Lottery Martin.

The story of Santiago Martin and Future Gaming and Hotel Services is a rags to “riches” story. Martin’s journey started as a humble labourer in Myanmar to become known as the ‘Lottery King’. 

The Pre-2000s

In 1988, Santiago Martin began his “entrepreneurial” journey upon returning from Myanmar. Establishing Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, he ventured into the world of lotteries. Swiftly gaining recognition as ‘Lottery Martin,’ he rode the wave of the lottery frenzy that swept through South India during this era. This meteoric rise to fame solidified his position as a household name, synonymous with the allure of lottery dreams. Expanding his operations beyond Tamil Nadu’s borders, Martin strategically extended his reach into neighbouring states like Karnataka and Kerala, laying the foundation for what would soon become a sprawling lottery empire across the region. Through shrewd business acumen and strategic expansion, Martin set the stage for his eventual dominance in the South Indian lottery market.

2000s

In 2003, his business encountered a significant setback when the Jayalalithaa government in Tamil Nadu imposed a ban on lotteries, forcing Martin to seek alternative avenues for expansion. With this hurdle in front of him, he redirected his focus towards the northeastern regions of India, where he swiftly established a stronghold by venturing into government lottery schemes. By now, he had become a dominant player in the lottery sector in the north-east region, with Martin Lottery Agencies Limited reportedly boasting a net worth exceeding ₹7,000 crore.

To launder this money, he started a music channel called SS Music. 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.

Capitalizing on emerging opportunities, Martin expanded his footprint beyond national borders, allegedly securing “exclusive distributorship” of lottery tickets in countries like Bhutan and Nepal. This move not only diversified his revenue streams but also solidified his position as a major player in the international lottery arena. He further explored new markets within India, obtaining permission to operate in various states such as Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Maharashtra. 

2011

The year 2011 marked a tumultuous chapter in Santiago Martin’s saga as allegations of fraudulent activities surfaced, casting a shadow over the empire he constructed. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched legal proceedings against Martin, registering over 30 cases accusing him of orchestrating a massive scam that defrauded the Sikkim government. The charges stemmed from accusations of withholding substantial sums derived from the sale of lottery tickets in Kerala on behalf of the Sikkim government. The CBI’s investigations unveiled a staggering figure of ₹4,500 crore allegedly siphoned off through this illicit scheme. 

2012

In 2012, the long arm of the law tightened its grip around him. Under the stern administration of the AIADMK regime led by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Martin’s fortunes took a sharp downward spiral as he faced the full brunt of the state’s legal apparatus. He was arrested and incarcerated in Vellore on charges of land grabbing. During this time, his wife, Leema Rose, claimed this was a concerted effort by individuals with ties to the DMK to frame her husband in a fabricated lottery scam. 

2015

In a coordinated effort to root out alleged financial irregularities, the Income Tax Department orchestrated raids on Martin’s premises spanning across multiple states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. These raids, conducted on allegations of tax evasion, sent shockwaves through Martin’s sprawling network. Concurrently, the Kerala police launched their own investigation into Martin’s activities, specifically targeting his involvement in illegal lottery operations within the state. 

In 2016, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on Santiago Martin’s properties concerning money laundering investigations linked to his lottery enterprises. Subsequently, in 2018, the CBI conducted searches at Martin’s residences and offices across several states as part of a wider probe into illegal lottery operations and suspected financial offenses.

2023

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) took decisive action by attaching ₹457 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This move came in connection with a case linked to the alleged misappropriation of over ₹900 crore intended for the Sikkim government. 

You can listen to the entire story here:

His Business Ventures

Martin’s business ventures transcended lotteries and branched out into diverse sectors such as healthcare, real estate, and media. His conglomerate spanned Martin Homeopathy Medical College and Hospital, SS Music television channel, M and C Property Development, Martin Nanthavanam apartments, and Leema Real Estate Private Limited, reflecting his multifaceted interests and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Politically Well Connected

The involvement of Martin’s son-in-law, Aadhav Arjuna, in politics further underscored the family’s political entanglements. Arjuna assumed the role of deputy general secretary in the Dalit political outfit and DMK ally, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), signaling the family’s deep-rooted ties within political circles.

Martin made substantial donations, including ₹2 crore to Deshabhimani, the CPI(M) mouthpiece, and contributions to disaster relief funds

Martin hired Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for legal representation. Tamil Nadu’s then Advocate General PS Raman appeared for Martin in the Kerala High Court.

For a considerable period, the Santanio Martin-owned company has been conducting the ‘Dear Lottery’ in West Bengal. In November 2022, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) disclosed that Trinamool Congress (TMC) Minister Anubrata Mondal and his daughter had won the lottery five times within three years.

He is said to have made contributions to disaster relief funds, including ₹5 crores for Cyclone Gaja relief in 2018, donations towards the Vardah cyclone in 2016, and the 2015 Chennai floods. It was observed that Martin had good relations with whoever was in power, irrespective of the political party. 

He also claimed that he was very prompt in paying income tax and that he was one of the highest taxpayers in the country.

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