Santiago Martin, family moves Madras HC challenging attachment of properties by ED

Lottery magnate Santiago Martin, his family members, and several companies linked to them are mounting a legal challenge against the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) seizure of assets valued at over ₹900 crore. The Madras High Court has issued notices to the ED in response to 39 appeals filed by Martin, his wife, his father-in-law, and various entities associated with the family, contesting the money laundering case.

The legal battle centers on an order from the Appellate Tribunal that upheld the ED's provisional attachment order. The appeals, filed by Martin, his wife Leema Rose (an AIADMK MLA), and his daughter, argue that the tribunal erred in its decision. They are seeking a stay on the attachment proceedings, asserting that the ED's case has shifted significantly over time.

Initially, the ED's case, stemming from a 2014 report based on a CBI chargesheet, alleged a loss of ₹910.29 crore to the Sikkim government due to manipulated lottery ticket sales in Kerala. The ED claimed proceeds of crime were generated through inflated prize-winning ticket claims. However, the appeals contend that the ED changed its stance in 2023, claiming that Future Gaming and related entities, operated by the Martin family, generated the entire proceeds of crime. This shift in theory, the appellants argue, was used to justify a fresh attachment of assets worth an additional ₹456.84 crore.