KOCHI
: A
Keralite expat
won a staggering 20 million dirhams (approximately Rs 39cr) in a
monthly raffle
in the
United Arab Emirates
.
Abdussalam N V
, who runs a shopping centre in
Muscat
won the raffle, the first draw of this year.
Though
Salam
, 28, from Kozhikode, won the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw on Sunday, he came to know about it only after a day as the organizers of the raffle could not locate him and break the news.
The organizers even approached community members to reach out to Salam.
Things started on December 29 when Salam bought the ticket with the number 323601. He gave his Indian mobile number instead of the Oman number, making it difficult for organizers to reach him. Later, he came to know about the win from his friend. Salam told a newspaper in the
UAE
over phone from Muscat that he would share the amount with his friends who were part of drawing the ticket.
Draws of 3 million dirhams (Rs 5 crore) and 1 million dirhams (Rs 1 crore) were also held. Saju Thomas won 3 million dirhams.