Kannur, Kerala — A lottery winner in Kannur district was allegedly abducted and robbed of his ₹1 crore prize-winning ticket in a dramatic incident that has prompted a police investigation and the arrest of one suspect.
Police said the victim, 46-year-old Sadique A K of Peravoor, had won the first prize in the Sthree Sakthi state lottery draw held on December 30. Instead of redeeming the ticket through official channels, Sadique decided to sell it on the black market to avoid income tax deductions, according to his complaint.
Through a mutual contact, he arranged a meeting with a group that offered to pay cash for the ticket. On Wednesday evening around 9 pm, Sadique and a friend went to the Manathana area in Peravoor town as agreed. However, a five-member gang allegedly dragged both men into a car; the ticket was forcibly taken, and Sadique’s friend was released later at a different location, police sources said. Sadique was also abandoned after the ordeal.
Following the complaint, Peravoor police registered a case and launched an investigation under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation, kidnapping, and dacoity. Using contact details provided by Sadique, officers traced and arrested one suspect identified as Suhaib, a native of Chavakkad. Authorities have indicated that another gang member known as Faris has been identified, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused.
The snatched ticket has not yet been recovered, and police are continuing their probe into the organized nature of the group and possible links to other black-market activities. Officials also warned citizens about the risks of attempting to sell winning tickets outside official procedures, emphasizing that such deals expose winners to fraud and violent crime.
News as reported
