Income tax officials are conducting raids at the house and offices of businessman Lottery Martin. The Income Tax officials conducted the raid following the enforcement department’s raid at Martin’s offices in Chennai and Coimbatore.

While the sale of lotteries is banned, it is allowed in states like Sikkim, West Bengal, and Kerala, subject to certain rules. Coimbatore businessman Martin is playing an important role in this lottery sale.

The Enforcement Directorate of Kochi State, Kerala, filed a case against Martin for allegedly earning Rs 910 crore in violation of rules and making illegal remittances. The Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate have registered a case against Martin and are investigating. In 2019, the Income Tax Department raided more than 70 places associated with lottery boss Martin.

During 2009–2010, the Sikkim State Lottery was found to have earned Rs 910 crore in violation of rules and diverted and invested the proceeds through more than 40 companies.

So far, the Enforcement Directorate has frozen assets worth Rs 908 crore belonging to Martin. In this situation, the enforcement officials and the income tax officials are conducting the inspection again.

The enforcement agencies have been searching Martin’s home and office since this morning. More than 10 Income Tax Department officials have been conducting security checks in Sonai since this morning.

Officials have said that the details of what documents were seized will be known only after the completion of this test. It has been revealed that an investigation has been conducted into whether they have paid income tax properly and whether they have evaded tax.

Last year, from April 30 to May 4, 2019, the Income Tax Department conducted a 4-day inspection. Following this, on May 3, 2019, the dead body of cashier Palanichami was found in a puddle near Velliangad under Karamdai police limits.