In a desperate bid to raise funds for his wife's critical medical treatment, a man from Kannur, Kerala, devised an unconventional and ultimately illegal scheme: selling his house and assets through a public lucky draw. The police have now arrested him for violating lottery laws.
A Desperate Measure for Medical Bills
Benny Thomas, a resident of Adakkathode in Kelakam, Kannur, found himself in dire financial straits due to his wife's ongoing health crisis. Exhausting conventional avenues, he conceived a plan to liquidate his major assets through a unique public raffle. The properties he intended to sell included his 3,300-square feet house, a 26-cent plot of land, along with his cars and a motorcycle.
His strategy involved issuing lucky draw coupons priced at Rs 1,500 each. The draw was initially planned for the second week of December, after the coupon sales began in March. However, facing slower-than-expected ticket sales, Benny postponed the event. He decided he would only conduct the draw once at least 80% of the tickets were sold, hoping to guarantee the necessary funds.
The Legal Crackdown
The unconventional fundraiser, however, caught the attention of the authorities. The state lottery department filed a formal complaint with the police, highlighting that running a private lottery by individuals is strictly prohibited under law. Acting on this complaint, the Kannur police registered a case and subsequently took Benny Thomas into custody.
The police investigation confirmed that Benny had initiated the coupon sales with the sole intention of financing his wife's treatment at a hospital. Despite the humanitarian motive behind his actions, the method chosen was in clear violation of the statutes governing lotteries in the state.
Between Desperation and Law
This incident sheds light on the extreme lengths individuals might consider when faced with overwhelming medical expenses. While Benny Thomas's primary goal was to secure life-saving treatment for his spouse, his approach inadvertently led him into legal trouble. The case underscores a critical conflict between personal desperation and established legal frameworks designed to prevent unauthorized gambling schemes.
The arrest of Benny Thomas serves as a stark reminder that even acts driven by urgent personal crises must navigate the boundaries of the law. The Kannur police have upheld the regulation, demonstrating that no individual is permitted to organize such money-raising lotteries, regardless of the cause.
