In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has temporarily prohibited the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from accessing or copying data from electronic devices seized during investigations involving Santiago Martin, widely known as the "lottery king."
Martin's company, Future Gaming, was the largest donor to political parties, reportedly contributing over ₹1,300 crore through electoral bonds.
The court has consolidated multiple cases, including those involving NewsClick and Amazon India, to establish guidelines for handling electronic device seizures.
The petitioners argue for safeguarding fundamental rights, particularly the right to privacy, with the next hearing scheduled for February 17.
The ED's probe into Martin's activities intensified in November, with raids across Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, and West Bengal. These operations uncovered ₹8.8 crore in cash, targeting Martin's extensive business network. The investigation follows a 2014 CBI case alleging Martin's involvement in a lottery scam, which culminated in money laundering charges in 2018.
Martin's firm, Future Gaming, emerged as a major donor to Tamil Nadu's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), purchasing electoral bonds worth ₹1,368 crore. Nearly 37% of these funds went to the DMK, alongside contributions from entities like Megha Engineering,
India Cements, and Sun TV. However, the Supreme Court recently declared electoral bonds unconstitutional, citing concerns over donor anonymity and arbitrary practices.
The ruling has significant implications for privacy rights and the transparency of political funding in India.
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