Enforcement directorate can attach assets of Martin: High Court

Kochi: The high court on Friday allowed enforcement directorate (ED) to continue with the move to attach the assets of 'Lottery King' Santiago Martin invoking provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002. The assets are allegedly worth over Rs122 crore.
Justice P B Suresh Kumar granted the permission for ED through an interim order while considering a petition filed by Martin challenging the provisional orders issued to attach his assets.He had contended that ED has no authority to attach the assets. The court has ordered that the contention regarding jurisdiction should also be considered while issuing orders regarding confirmation of the provisional attachment orders.
As per Martin's petition, a total of 32 FIRs were registered in relation to the lottery scam alleging that Martin sold fake lotteries that were printed at private presses in collusion with officials of the state of Sikkim.