Police told to register case against lottery baron

Chennai, Jan 12 (PTI): The Madras High Court todaydirected police to register a case against a lottery baron foralleged land grabbing from a lottery stockist.

Justice G M Akbar Ali in his order, told petitioner V GBalaji of Salem to file a fresh complaint with police alongwith a copy of the order, following his petition, seeking adirection to police to register a case against Martin.

The Judge also directed police to register if anycognizable offence was made out after investigation.

In his petition, Balaji submitted that Martin is apolitically influential person and producer of a new Tamilmovie ''Illiagnan'' in which Chief Minister M Karunanidhi haswritten the story and penned the dialogue.

He submitted that Martin had shared the dias with the ChiefMinister in some recent functions, as a result of which policeare hesitant to conduct an enquiry on his complaint.

Balaji said that while he had been engaged in the lotterystockist business from 1990 to 2003,he used to buy tickets inwholesale from Martin of Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd. For saleof bulk lotteries, he had furnished security to Martin in formof executing power attorney for two properties to Martin andhis brother Benjamin.

After the ban on lottery sale by the Tamil Nadu government,he shifted his lottery business to Karnataka after paying allnecessary charges to Martin. In October last, unknown personsentered into the property and demanded that he vacate it.

The petitioner submitted he was shocked when came to knowthat Martin, Benjamin and others had executed a sale deedfraudulently and sold the property to another.

When he tried to stop the unknown persons sent by Martinfrom demolishing a building in the property, he was threatenedby them, he said.

Despite his wife complaing to police, they had notregistered it, he said.