Thiruvananthapuram: Malayinkeezhu police initiated a probe into an incident in which an unidentified person siphoned off Rs 4,500 from a lottery agency owner by submitting a counterfeit ticket on Monday.According to complainant Nelson, who operates Mankunnil Agency near Malayinkeezhu market, an unidentified man arrived on a bike, parked at a distance and entered the shop posing as a prize winner. After presenting the ‘winning ticket’, he purchased 10 tickets for Wednesday’s draw and collected the prize money before leaving. The ticket initially appeared genuine when checked against the result sheet but was later found to be fake during detailed computer verification. Police said the fraud was executed using a colour photocopy of Dhanalakshmi lottery ticket number DL 39 dated Feb 11. Subsequent investigation revealed that the man also siphoned off Rs 500 from another agency owner near Chandamukku in Peyadu in a similar manner. The same person had also approached two other outlets in Malayinkeezhu seeking cash in exchange for new tickets, but they refused. Police have launched a probe based on CCTV visuals at the shop. TNN
