Thiruvananthapuram: The lottery department on Thursday started an inquiry into the doubling of numbers in the lottery tickets. Lottery department director E. J. Jayaraj said in a statement here that he had sought an explanation from the press which printed the tickets. Further action would be based on the reply given by the press.
The doubling was found in 442 tickets of two series of the 180th draw of Dhanasree lottery. They were printed at C-apt Press and sent to the lottery office in Ernakulam for sale.
Mr Jayaraj clarified that if both the tickets with the same number won a prize, cash would be given to both. The press concerned would have to bear the cost incurred for the same.
The department usually distributes 3.24 crore tickets every week, apart from bumper tickets. The district lottery officers have been instructed to immediately report cases like duplication.
Lottery agents have also been asked to ensure that the tickets do not have doubling of numbers. This has been made clear on the posters pasted on the walls of lottery offices, Mr Jayaraj said.
