Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
Santiago Martin's Future Gaming and Hotel Services purchased electoral bonds worth approximately Rs 1,300 crore between 2019 and 2024, as per the Election Commission's data sourced from the State Bank of India.
Santiago Martin's journey from humble beginnings to becoming a lottery king has been marked by controversies. He started his foray into the lottery business at the age of 13, with allegations of irregularities and legal battles.
Besides the lottery business, Martin has invested in various sectors including real estate, construction, alternative energy, media, textiles, hospitality, healthcare, education, software, technology, property development, agro, and building materials.
The company, owned by Martin, operates gaming facilities such as casinos and electronic gaming centers. However, it has faced scrutiny for its involvement in electoral bond contributions and other controversial practices.
Martin and his companies have faced extensive legal scrutiny and controversies, with investigations by agencies like the CBI, ED, and Income Tax Department in 2022 and 2023, alleging irregularities in the lottery business and other ventures.
Martin Group's businesses include lottery operations, real estate development, hospitality, and entertainment. However, these ventures have often been marred by allegations of corruption and malpractice.
In a significant ruling on February 15, 2024, a five-judge Constitution bench deemed the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional, highlighting the opacity and potential for misuse in political funding, including contributions from entities like Future Gaming and Hotel Services.
Despite his controversial career, Martin maintains a private profile, with limited public information about his early life, education, and family background.