The High Court on Thursday reserved its order on a writ petition filed by Santiago Martin, a lottery agent, challenging the order of the Adjudicating Authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Act attaching his properties in connection with the cases relating to the illegal sale of lotteries of other states. The petition has triggered a controversy of sorts following the appearance of Senior Counsel M.K. Damodaran, who is the Special Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, for Martin before the High Court.
Mr. Damodaran contended that activities under the Lotteries (Regulations) Act did not amount to a criminal activity. K.M. Nataraj, Additional Solicitor General of India for Southern Zone, who appeared for the Directorate of Enforcement, submitted that the offence against Santiago Martin came under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. — Special Correspondent