MUMBAI (Special Correspondence) | Member of Parliament Sh. Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke letter to DGP Police, Maharashtra on the mal-practices of tax evasion, money laundering and cheating and fraud with people of Maharashtra in the running of other states lotteries by M/s Future Gaming & Hotel Services (P) Ltd.
Hon’ble Member of Parliament Sh. Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke had sent letter to DGP Police, Maharashtra highlighting the various mal-practices of tax evasion, money laundering, cheating and fraud with people of Maharashtra, violation of provision of Lotteries Regulation Act 1998 and Lotteries Regulation Rules 2010 by M/s Future Gaming & Hotel Services (P) Ltd. having office in Maharashtra as well at 303, 3rd Floor, 349 Business Point, Western Express Highway, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400069 in the running of other state lotteries of Nagaland, Sikkim and Punjab. He also brought to their notice that ED had also shared information of mal-practices of Mr. Martin with Maharashtra Police but no enquiry has been made till date. In his letter, he highlighted following mal-practices:
- Violation of Rule 3(3) of LRR 2010 by M/s Future Gaming & Hotel Services (P) Ltd. in selling lottery tickets of State Govt. of Nagaland, Punjab and Sikkim. These states as per Rule are not disclosing actual number of tickets printed in lottery scheme which may lead to illegal sale, cheating and fraud with people as the winning number may be drawn from non-printed tickets. The State of Nagaland is even not uploading its lottery scheme on website.
- Evasion of TDS liability under section 194B and money laundering by selling lottery tickets of Nagaland and Sikkim States in the bundle of 5,10,20,50,100,200 due to which the prize money ranging from Rs 10,000 – Rs 18 lakhs are paid by agents in cash without deduction of TDS. It may result in revenue loss of TDS of around Rs 1500 – 2000 crore per year. As per information the Income Tax department had already served notice of demand of more than Rs. 6000 crores for evasion of TDS on raids varied on 12.10.23
- Violation of Section 2(a) of Lotteries Regulation Act 1998 by selling bumper lotteries under the name of weekly lotteries.
- No registration/certification of authorized agents of state governments lotteries which makes it difficult for police personnel to identify the illegal lottery operators.
He had requested the police department to investigate the matter and take action as per the provision of section 7,8 and 9 of the Lotteries Regulation Act 1998 and relevant section of BNS 2023.
DGP Maharashtra Lottery Investgation Letter 01.04.2026
