Indian expat wins nearly Rs 13 crore jackpot in Abu Dhabi

March 6, 2017

Abu Dhabi, Mar 6: Indian expat Sreeraj Krishnan Kopparembil will wake up as a millionaire on Monday. The 33-year-old shipping coordinator has won a whopping Dh7 million (nearly Rs 13 crore) in the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket Draw announced on March 5.

"I just went blank for a minute when I got the call from the Big Ticket. I still cannot believe it has happened," said an elated Krishnan, from the south Indian state of Kerala. He has been working in the UAE for the last nine years.

"I am now convinced my lucky number is 44698," said Krishnan alluding to his ticket number. Though a regular buyer of Big Ticket, Krishnan said he has never won anything before. "This time when I bought the ticket, I had decided it would be my last try. And as luck would have it, this is definitely my last buy," said Kirshnan who earns Dh6,000 in monthly salary.

So what would he do with all this money? "My first priority is to pay off my housing loans back in India. That is what my wife also wants me to do," said Krishnan who is married to Ashwathi. She works as an administrative assistant in a private firm.

The couple said they want to continue working in the UAE. "Why would I leave this country where we got lucky?"

"I am a matured person who wants to stay grounded. I don't have any extraordinary plans for life as of now. I will let the excitement settle and think it through," said Krishnan.

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Mangaluru: Youth arrested for misleading Instagram post targeting police

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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