Centre not acting against lottery mafia: Kerala FM

Thiruvanantapuram, July 2 (UNI) Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac today alleged that the Central Government was not acting those running lotteries in violation of guidelines.

Alleging that lottery mafia was a money spinning agent for the Congress, he told newspersons here that though the state government had given evidence to the Centre, it was reluctant to act against those who flouted rules.

Stating that the state government should be given the authority to act against the lottery mafia, he claimed that the recent controversy over CPI(M) mouthpice Deshabimani accepting Rs two crore from a lottery agent would not pose any impediment in the government's resolve to recover tax arrears amounting to crores of rupees from the lottery agents.

Mr Thomas denied the allegation that the government was against a CBI inquiry into the lottery deal.

UNI