The Election Commission on Thursday released the roster of organisations that acquired electoral bonds for political contributions, following the State Bank of India's submission of details following the rebuke from the Supreme Court. The largest sum of donations came from a firm called Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited, helmed by Santiago Martin, renowned as the "Lottery King".
Who Is Santiago Martin?
According to the website of Santiago Martin's charitable trust, his professional journey commenced as a labourer in Yangon, Myanmar. Upon his return to India in 1988, he initiated a lottery enterprise in Tamil Nadu, subsequently broadening its reach to Karnataka and Kerala before venturing into the northeastern region.
In the northeast, he initially managed government lottery initiatives and subsequently expanded his operations internationally by establishing ventures in Bhutan and Nepal.
The website further notes his diversification into various sectors, including construction, real estate, textiles, and hospitality.
"He is also the President of All India Federation of Lottery Trade and Allied Industries – an organization engaged for uplifting and infusing credibility to the lottery trade in India. Under his stewardship, his enterprise, Future Gaming Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. became a member of the prestigious World Lottery Association and is expanding into the field of Online Gaming & Casinos and Sports Betting," the website reads.
Between 2019 and 2024, Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited contributed Rs 1368 crore.
The Enforcement Directorate has been investigating the company since 2019 for suspected breaches of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In May 2023, raids were conducted by the agency in Coimbatore and Chennai.
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Another big contributor in the EC's list is Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, which made a donation of Rs 966 crore. The company, headquartered in Hyderabad, is presently engaged in numerous infrastructure initiatives.