Indian Supreme Court Halts Money Laundering Trial Against Lottery Tycoon Santiago Martin

For the time being, the trial proceedings in a well-known money laundering case involving lottery billionaire Santiago Martin have been suspended by the Indian Supreme Court.

Martin, who is well-known for his deep involvement in electoral politics and his ardent support of political organizations like the DMK in Tamil Nadu and the TMC in West Bengal, was able to get the trial put on hold until the conclusion of another legal battle.

This legal story takes place against the backdrop of claims made against Martin in a lottery operation involving the distribution of Sikkim government lottery tickets in Kerala.

Martin is under close examination following the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) accusation that he caused the government of Sikkim to suffer an astounding loss of over INR 900 crore ($107.9 million).

The Special PMLA Court first turned down Martin’s plea to halt the trial in accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Unfazed, he brought the case to the Supreme Court and asked for a stay of proceedings until other legal actions could be finished in parallel.

Martin’s case, which is garnering national attention and scrutiny as the legal battle drags on, emphasizes the intersection of high-stakes money, political favoritism, and legal difficulties.

Original Story by: Asia Gaming Brief