NCP government sat on illegal lottery report during term

Tuesday 14th of June 2016

Maharashtra’s former government has been under fire for allegedly keeping a ‘confidential report’ under wraps during their term, causing the loss of millions of dollars of potential tax revenue in the state, local media reports.

The document which has been procured through the Right To Information Act revealed that the NCP government kept the confidential report on an illegal lotteries scam “on the backburner” during their term, thus paving the way for private operators to indulge in tax evasion and running illegal businesses.

According to the Indian Express the report, which recommended the banning of online lotteries and investigation of illegal operations, was overlooked.

The report revealed how private operator M/s Martin Lottery Agencies, operated by lottery kingpin Santiago Martin, controlled the Maharashtra State Lottery operations. It also alleges the Maharashtra State Lottery Board, whose chairman is the minister of finance, not only considered Martin’s lone tender but also gave it repeated extensions.

Martin has recently had several cases pertaining to money-laundering, fraud, bid rigging and cheating pending against him.

Lottery Illegal Government Scam Maharashtra