Duplicate lottery: probe going on

TPURAM: A vigilance inquiry is going on into the circumstances in which duplicate tickets of the Kerala lottery were submitted to the Lottery Department claiming prizes, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac told the Assembly yesterday. Answering a submission from V.D. Satheeshan, he said the issue should not be blown out of proportion. Over the last six months, 53 duplicate tickets reached the department claiming prizes totalling around Rs.60,000. Satheeshan said the very credibility of the State lotteries was at stake, if such things could happen. Dr. Isaac assured the House that the government was seized of the seriousness of the issue and would get to the root of the mischief.