Kochi: The Kerala High Court has come to the rescue of a Sabarimala pilgrim from Tamil Nadu who won a Winwin lottery in 2011. On his way to Sabarimala, he bought a ticket and won Rs 40 lakh and 50 gold sovereigns from Muvattupuzha. However, official apathy ruined his luck as the government sanctioned the money only after four years and delayed the handing over of gold sovereigns till date.
The court directed state government to hand over the 50 gold sovereign to Radhakrishnan or the value of the same. “A finality shall be attained, within a period of two months, failing which, the responsible officer will have to pay 10 per cent interest from the date on which petitioner has won the lottery,” the court held. The court observed that the matter is pending from the year 2011 and a finality is to be attained for the issue. Six years have elapsed since the petitioner won the lottery.
The directorate of lotteries was reluctant to pay the amount even after repeated requests. The government had informed that a detailed inquiry is needed as the winner was from outside Kerala. It also said that a probe is needed to inquire whether the ticket is fake or not. Even four years after the amount was not handed over and Radhakrishnan approached the High Court. The court had directed to pay the amount and to handed over the sovereign in 2015.
Later, Rs 24,50,000 was handed over to the petitioner, but the gold was not handed over. The lotteries department submitted that the gold fund is not sanctioned and it will be distributed immediately on receipt of the amount from the government.
