Latest news with #SriramRajagopalan
News18
7 days ago
- News18
After Rs 1 Crore Lottery Win, Bengal Family Vanishes Overnight Leaving Elderly Mother Behind
Last Updated: Lottery winners usually seek police protection, but Shankar chose to stay hidden, raising concerns over who would be accountable if anything had gone wrong A daily wage labourer from Nadia's Shantipur had gone into hiding after a stroke of extraordinary luck turned his life upside down. Shankar, a resident of Shantipur's Baigachi Para, won Rs 1 crore in a lottery but had been too fearful to sleep at home since the windfall, choosing instead to stay out of sight without informing the police or even the ticket seller. Shankar, who occasionally buys lottery tickets to test his luck, purchased his winning ticket for just Rs 60. Despite not being addicted to playing the lottery, this small gamble turned him into a millionaire overnight. However, the joy of winning was overshadowed by worry, leading him and his family, except for his elderly mother, to disappear without informing anyone. Typically, lottery winners approach the police station for protection, but Shankar opted to stay hidden, raising concerns about who would have taken responsibility if any issues arose. Sources revealed that the following morning, Shankar and his brother visited a state-owned bank in Shantipur to settle their affairs. According to a report by Financial Express, recently a retired Indian engineer Sriram Rajagopalan experienced a life-changing moment when he bagged a staggering Rs 225 crore—roughly $27 million (Dh100 million)—in the Emirates Draw MEGA7. What started as a casual scroll through his phone ended in one of the biggest lottery wins ever recorded by an Indian citizen. Earlier in January, Anil Kumar, a government employee from Rajasthan, happened to purchase four lottery tickets during a trip to Ludhiana. In the Lohri Bumper draw, which offered a grand prize of Rs 10 crore, one of his tickets won the second prize of Rs 1 crore. The top prize was claimed by a resident of Ropar. First Published: May 28, 2025, 11:18 IST
Khaleej Times
24-05-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
'No more sleepless nights': Winner of Dh100-million Emirates Draw jackpot pens heartfelt letter
Soon after winning Dh100 million, the largest individual prize in UAE Draw history, Chennai-based Sriram Rajagopalan wrote a letter. But it wasn't about wealth, investments, or luxury plans. It was about gratitude, humility, and the joy of a mother's smile. 'The moment I got your call, my world stopped,' he wrote to Emirates Draw. 'My hands shook. My heart beat so fast, I thought time itself had frozen.' The retired engineer, who returned to India in 2023 after decades of working in Saudi Arabia, had randomly tapped numbers on his phone using a stylus with his eyes closed. When those numbers were drawn on March 16 in the MEGA7 game, he became an overnight multi-millionaire. In his deeply emotional letter, Sriram said what the win truly meant to him: 'My mother is 88 years old, and I have never seen her like this before. Her face, once tired from life's struggles, now glows with happiness.' Raised in a modest, middle-class household, Sriram spent years working abroad to support his family. The sacrifices were many, the dreams often postponed, until one life-changing moment. In his letter, he added, 'No more sleepless nights filled with worry. No more sacrificing dreams to survive.' He calls the jackpot a 'chance to build generational wealth.' He plans to donate a portion of his winnings to charity. 'You haven't just changed my life, you have given me a new one,' he concluded in the letter, signing off as 'Dear Millionaire'; the name he was called during the unforgettable phone call. For Sriram, it was never about becoming rich. It was about seeing his mother smile, finally and freely, a moment he calls 'worth more than all the money in the world.' Here's a video of Sriram's letter to Emirates Draw: Owned and operated by Tycheros, Emirates Draw paused its UAE operations at the end of 2023 following regulatory updates from the UAE's Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (CGRA). The company subsequently shifted its focus to international markets. Like Sriram, other lucky participants in previous draws have reflected on what the mega win means to them and what they plan to do with the big bounty. From driver to millionaire Pakistani expat Junaid Rana's life transformed overnight in October 2021 when he won Dh50 million in the Mahzooz draw. A former driver earning Dh6,000 a month, Junaid used the winnings to reunite his family in Dubai, invest in businesses back home, and fulfill lifelong dreams, from buying his dream car to securing a comfortable future for his ailing brother. Free ticket, Dh25 million windfall Meanwhile, Sharjah-based Indian resident Aravind Appukuttan, who works as a salesperson, struck luck in December 2023 by winning Dh25 million in the Big Ticket draw through a free ticket. Sharing the prize with 20 friends, Aravind called it a dream come true and urged others to keep their hopes alive. 'I'll pay off loans and save the rest,' he said earlier.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘70% happiness, 30% fear': Chennai retiree hits Rs 225 crore lottery in record-breaking Emirates Draw
What began as a string of taps on his phone — his eyes wide shut — turned into a life-changing moment for retired Indian engineer Sriram Rajagopalan. The Chennai-resident bagged one of the largest lottery prizes ever claimed by an Indian, bagging ₹225 crore (approx. $27 million, Dh100 million) in the Emirates Draw MEGA7 game, the lottery operator announced on Thursday night. Sriram, who returned to India after working in Saudi Arabia for over two decades, hadn't entered a draw in a while but decided to try his luck again. According to the company, Sriram matched the winning numbers on March 16. According to a press statement by Emirates Draw, Sriram tapped 'random numbers on his phone using a stylus with his eyes closed.' 'When I saw the results, I couldn't believe it. I replayed the draw video and even took a screenshot of the winning numbers,' he said in a statement, as quoted by Khaleej Times. The 2023 retiree described the moment as '70 per cent happiness, 30 per cent fear,' acknowledging the sheer magnitude of the ₹225 crore windfall. 'It's a huge amount. I've never managed anything like this before,' he said. 'But this win isn't just for me; it's a hope for my family, my children, and everyone reading. Every father dreams of securing their children's future — and now I can. This is a chance to build generational wealth.' Sriram was raised in a humble, middle-class household in Chennai before moving to Saudi Arabia in 1998, where he worked and raised two sons with his wife. After retiring in 2023, he returned to his hometown to settle into a quieter life — until this extraordinary twist of fate. While he hasn't revealed specific plans for the money, Sriram has already stated that a portion of his winnings will go to charity. 'I have bigger choices to make now compared to when I was a regular employee. So yes, it might change my life but not who I am,' according to Khaleej Times. The Emirates Draw, operated by Tycheros, had paused its UAE operations at the end of 2023 following new regulations introduced by the UAE's Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). After failing to secure the country's national lottery licence — now held by The Game LLC, operator of The UAE Lottery — the company shifted focus to global markets.
Khaleej Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dh100-million Emirates Draw lottery: Retired Indian engineer wins jackpot
A retired engineer based in India has won Emirates Draw's $27-million (Dh100 million) jackpot, the lottery operator announced late Thursday. Sriram Rajagopalan matched all seven numbers in the MEGA7 game, securing the largest individual prize in the draw's history. Owned and operated by Tycheros, Emirates Draw had paused its UAE operations at the end of 2023 following regulatory updates from the UAE's Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The company subsequently shifted its focus to international markets. According to the company, Sriram matched the winning numbers on March 16. He tapped "random numbers on his phone using a stylus with his eyes closed", Emirates Draw said in a press statement. 'I didn't believe it at first. I replayed the draw video and even took a screenshot of the winning numbers,' he was quoted as saying. Raised in a humble, middle-class household, Sriram moved to Saudi Arabia in 1998, where he built a life abroad with his wife and raised two sons before returning home to Chennai after retiring in 2023. He had taken a break from playing but decided to try his luck again. Sriram described the winning moment as '70 per cent happiness, 30 per cent fear.' 'It's a huge amount. I've never managed anything like this before... This win isn't just for me; it's hope for my family, my children, and everyone reading. Every father dreams of securing their children's future—and now I can. This is a chance to build generational wealth.' While he hasn't revealed specific plans for the money, he said he intends to donate a portion to charity. 'I have bigger choices to make now compared to when I was a regular employee. So yes, it might change my life but not who I am.' Emirates Draw operated in the UAE for just over two years before ceasing operations, following an unsuccessful bid to obtain the sole national lottery licence, which was ultimately awarded to The Game, LLC, the operator of The UAE Lottery.
