Lottery department to decide luck of friends who hit Onam bumper; Investigation to find out whether ticket was from black market

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The lucky ones who hit the Onam bumper will have to wait to get the prize money. The lottery department has launched an investigation to find out whether the ticket worth Rs 25 crore was sold in the black market in Tamil Nadu. The investigation report of the seven-member team consisting of the Joint Director and the Finance Officer will determine the fate of the winners of the first prize.

Pandyaraj, a native of Tamil Nadu, and three other friends are the ones who hit the Onam bumper this time. Pandyaraj, the prize winner, said that he bought the ticket at Walayar. However, days after the results were declared, a Tamil Nadu native filed a complaint alleging that the ticket that won the first prize was bought from Kerala and sold in the black market of Tamil Nadu and the money should not be handed over. The lottery department announced an investigation after this.

As per law, Kerala Lottery cannot be sold in other states. Reasons for the prize winner to come to Kerala will also be checked. An inquiry will be made at the agency from which the prize winner has drawn the lottery and the documents produced will be verified. Even if there are no complaints, if the lottery prize is received by people from other states, the prize is handed over only after verification by this committee. This time the investigation will be strengthened in the event that a complaint has been received.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu natives Pandyaraj, Nataraj, Kuppusamy and Ramaswamy had come to the capital and handed over the Onam bumper purchased from the Palakkad Bawa Center to the lottery department. The winners had requested the authorities not to share their pictures or other details. Following this, the Lottery Department shared a picture of the hands of the lottery winners handing over the ticket on the website.