Kerala asks Centre to ban Sikkim and Bhutan lotteries

PTI,
Sep 21, 2010, 01.15pm IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala government has asked Centre to take stringent action including a ban on Sikkim and Bhutan paper lotteries in the state in the wake of clear cut evidences that promoters of these lotteries were violating rules.

State government has submitted to Centre a fresh memorandum with all details of violation of rules by the promoters and expect an early action on the matter, State finance minister T M Thomas Issac told reporters.

During an examination by state officials of commercial taxes department in co-operation with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu at Mahalekshmi Offset Printers, Shivakasi, where the lotteries were printed, it was found that the press did not have the 'security press' recognition either by Reserve Bank of India or Indian Banker's Association, Issac said.

As per the Centre Lottery Act, other state lotteries have to be printed in a 'security press' status press, he pointed out.

Kerala government had already informed the Centre about the various irregularities being committed by the promoters and the memorandum submitted on last week was the latest, he said and alleged that ' Centre is reluctant to take action and is helping Lottery mafia'.

Following the row over the operation of other state lotteries, the state government had stopped accepting advance taxes from the promoters, which in effect, had curtailed the draw of both Sikkim and Bhutan in the state for the last few weeks.

On the report that illegal sale of lotteries of Sikkim was going on in parts of state, Issac said raids were conducted at 619 centres, but nothing incriminating were found, he said.

However, criminal case has been registered against an agent for selling lottery that has been withdrawn at Kozhikode, he said.

Issac, who recently held an open debate over the issue with Congress, MLA, V D Sateeshan, said he would be launching an interactive web titled' counterpoint' with focus on lottery issue. 'Let people give their views on the matter', he said.

The web would be launched on September 23, he said.