Kolkata trader wins highest ever jackpot

Kolkata, May 29 (UNI) A rags to riches story has come true in the city with a small time iron scrap dealer winning a Rs 17 crore lottery run by the Sikkim government.

Jaiprakash Jaiswal, a resident of central Kolkata in his late fifties, won one of the highest sums in online lottery, popularly known as the Playwin Super Lotto.

He had won a few days ago but showed up only Monday morning at the outlet in a dingy north Kolkata alley in Bowbazar area from where he had bought the ticket.

Jaiswal has won Rs 17.29 crore but would get around Rs 10 crore after paying tax.

''I have come on Monday because the court is open today and I have to get an affidavit made to claim the money,'' he told reporters.

He said he was not under any threat and had not sought police security.

''I will keep buying tickets in future,'' Jaiswal said.

Playwin is an online lottery run by the Sikkim government with operations in many towns and cities in the country.

Playwin Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Das said, ''Last week on Thursday, a particular ticket from Kolkata matched but the person could not be identified. Today A person called Jaiswal validated his ticket in a computerised terminal in Kolkata,'' Mr Das said.

''His ticket has matched and we would send his case to Sikkim government soon.'' ''Jaiswal will fill up the form and sent his application to us which we will forward to Sikkim government,'' he added.

(eds: pick up suitably from the earlier series).

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