The Kerala High Court on Friday restrained the Directorate of State Lotteries from releasing the ₹20 crore first prize of the Kerala Christmas Bumper Lottery 2025 after a dispute arose regarding the ownership of the winning ticket.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas passed the interim order while hearing a plea filed by K K Sajimon, a resident of Piravom in Ernakulam district, who claimed that he was the rightful owner of the winning ticket.
The court issued notices to the Kerala government, the Directorate of State Lotteries, Piravom police, and DTDC courier, directing them to file their responses. The matter has been posted for further hearing on February 27.
It also ordered the Directorate of State Lotteries to produce, in a sealed cover, a photocopy of both sides of the winning ticket along with details of the person who has claimed the first prize.
According to Sajimon’s plea, the ticket had been misplaced at a courier office. He told the court that when he later attempted to retrieve it, the ticket could not be found.
In view of the rival claim over the ticket’s ownership, the High Court directed that the prize amount should not be disbursed until further orders.
