In a recent revelation by the Election Commission on Thursday (March 14), data regarding the purchase of electoral bonds for political donations in India from April 2019 to January 2024 has come to light. Among the prominent purchasers stands Future Gaming and Hotel Services, a company owned by the scandal-ridden figure Santiago Martin, often dubbed the ‘lottery king’. Martin’s financial activities have long been scrutinized by enforcement agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department.
The investigative report published by Organiser sheds light on Martin’s affiliations with various political entities, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK), and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
In January 2023, attention was drawn to Santiago Martin’s son-in-law, Aadhav Arjuna, who was appointed as the chief election strategist for the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The controversy surrounding Arjuna’s involvement sparked discussions, particularly after a tweet by controversial ‘journalist’ Savukku Shankar, hinting at Arjuna’s role in election management strategies for the DMK.
“Sources: DMK find its version of PK. DMK has decided to place Arjun, son-in-law of Lottery Martin as the man in charge of 2024 polls. Like Sunil & Prasanth Kishore, Sabs believes that Arjun will be the go-getter for DMK for 2024,” Shankar’s tweet read.
Further elaborating on Arjuna’s alleged activities, Shankar’s tweet suggested his involvement in conducting illegal technical surveillance and phone interceptions from a ‘war room’, primarily targeting DMK Ministers for monitoring purposes. Despite these controversies, Arjuna later joined the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) in February this year as the Deputy General Secretary.
It’s noteworthy that VCK is an ally of Congress in the I.N.D.I. Alliance. Arjuna maintains that he has not inherited his father Santiago Martin’s wealth and claims to be a ‘self-made entrepreneur.’
Notably, Arjuna’s affiliation with the VCK caught political observers off guard, notably as he was previously associated with a powerful clique led by Sabareesan, the son-in-law of Chief Minister M.K Stalin.
Despite scant details about his background, Arjuna maintains that he hasn’t inherited any wealth from his father-in-law, positioning himself as a ‘self-made entrepreneur’. His recent election as the president of the Basketball Federation Of India (BFI) in July 2023 further underscores his rising prominence.
Arjuna’s entry into VCK occurred during the ‘Vellum Sananayagam’ conference held by the party in Trichy last month, a move that signals his commitment to the party’s objectives.
Local media reports suggest that Arjuna has become a significant financial contributor to the Dalit outfit, led by Thol. Thirumavalavan, as it seeks to bolster its political influence in Tamil Nadu. Thirumavalavan publicly acknowledged Arjuna’s support for the successful organisation of the Trichy event, indicative of their burgeoning partnership.
Despite its solid base among the Dalit population in northern Tamil Nadu, VCK has faced challenges in making substantial gains against the Dravidian parties. As a key ally of the DMK, VCK has been criticised for its unwavering loyalty to the ruling party, often accused of ignoring instances of Dalit oppression across the state.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, VCK was allocated only two seats, with one candidate compelled to contest under the DMK symbol. This limitation highlights the party’s struggle for recognition and representation. With aspirations to attain ‘national party’ status, VCK demands four Lok Sabha seats, including one non-reserved seat, a move that aligns with its plan to field Arjuna in the desired non-reserved constituency.
However, recent events have cast a shadow over Arjuna’s clean image, as the Enforcement Directorate raided his residence in Teynampet, Chennai, on March 9th, in connection with a sand mining racket in Tamil Nadu. Despite these challenges, Arjuna is expected to be nominated by VCK as a candidate for the Lok Sabha constituency.
Santiago Martin himself faces severe allegations, particularly regarding a lottery ticket scam that resulted in a staggering loss of Rs 910.29 crores to the Sikkim government. The Enforcement Directorate has been relentless in pursuing Martin, having seized considerable movable and immovable assets in previous raids and attachments.
Martin’s journey from a former daily-wage labourer in Yangon, Myanmar, to the helm of a Rs 7000 crore ‘lottery’ empire is marred with controversies of financial fraud and money laundering, putting him under the constant radar of investigative agencies since 2011.
