Santiago Martin's company, Fure Gaming and Hotel Services, purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 1,368 crore between April 2019 and January 2024.
The website of Santiago Martin's charitable trust says he started his career as a labourer in Myanmar's Yangon. In 1988, he returned to India and started a lottery business in Tamil Nadu. He later expanded the business in Karnataka and Kerala before moving into the northeast.
In the northeast, he began his business by handling government lottery schemes. He later took his business offshore by launching entities in Bhutan and Nepal.
1.Founder of Martin Group: Santiago
Martin is the founder of the Martin Group, a conglomerate with diverse business interests ranging from real estate to lottery operations.
2.Electoral Bonds Donor: Martin Group emerged as one of the largest donors of electoral bonds in India, a system introduced to allow anonymous donations to political parties.
3.Controversy Surrounding Donations: The significant donations made by Martin Group through electoral bonds have sparked controversy and raised questions about transparenc and accountability in political funding.
4.Political Influence: Santiago Martin's company's substantial contributions through electoral bonds have raised concerns about the potential influence it may have on political decisions and policies.
5.Legal Scrutiny: The electoral bonds donated by Martin Group have come under legal scrutiny, with calls for more stringent regulations and transparency measures regarding political funding in India.
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