Kannur: Daily-wage labourer wins Rs 12 cr in lottery

Kannur: A daily wage worker loaded with a loan of Rs 7 lakhs won the first prize of Rs 12 crore in Kerala Christmas-New Year bumper lottery.

Porunnan Rajan, a resident of Kannur district in Kerala bought the ticket while he was on his way to the bank at Koothuparamba to avail the fourth loan to make repayments of the three he had taken before. However, he did not tell anyone about it as it cost Rs 300, a lot more than the usual cost, and also his wife Rajani was against his habit of wasting money on the lottery.

The result of the bumper lottery was declared on Monday. Porunnan Rajan (Ticket number – ST 269609) was on cloud nine when he got to know that he had won the first prize. After taxes and commissions paid to the lottery agent, Rajan is expected to receive around Rs 7.2 crore.

“My wife (Rajani) always picks up a quarrel when she comes to know about me buying lottery tickets as she thinks it is a waste of money. It was only when the news spread on Monday that the Christmas bumper first prize is for a ticket sold in Koothuparamba that I remembered about the one I had bought. I was too nervous to check the number,” Rajan was quoted speaking to The New Indian Express.

He went to a nearby shop on Tuesday morning to find out that he had won the jackpot. “I felt happy. I would be able to settle all my loans which will come to around Rs 7 lakh and finish the work on my house. Also, I’ll be able to help my younger daughter Akshara, a plus-two student, complete her studies without any hassle. I would also like to help the needy as I know the hardships of life,” Rajan added.