The Samrudhi SM-12 lottery draw on Sunday, July 20, 2025, turned a quiet afternoon in Alappuzha into a moment of life-changing fortune. Ticket number MR 184440, sold by agent Thankamma K of Agency No. A 4139, won the top prize of ₹1 crore — the kind of windfall that changes mortgages, funds dreams, and rewrites family stories. The draw, held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, was conducted at 3:00 PM IST under the watchful eyes of officials from the Directorate of State Lotteries. No smoke. No mirrors. Just a mechanical drum spinning tickets in a room full of quiet tension — and one person, still unaware, holding the key to a new life.
Who Won What — And Where
The prize structure was as precise as it was generous. The second prize of ₹25 lakh went to ticket MX 376272, sold in Kottayam by P.K. Vinod Kumar of Agency No. K 6208. Third place — ₹5 lakh — landed with MT 770687, purchased in Irinjalakuda through Nishad K.R. of Agency No. R 9595. These aren’t just numbers. They’re names. Addresses. Lives. The agent in Alappuzha, Thankamma K, didn’t just sell a ticket — she sold hope. And now, she’ll get a 12% commission, a quiet reward for being the conduit between luck and a stranger’s life.Below the top three, the prizes trickled down like rain — 20 tickets won ₹5,000 each, six sets of numbers won ₹2,000, and 30 more won ₹1,000. Even the smallest prize — ₹100 — was awarded to tickets ending in 0357, 0364, and 18 other combinations. Altogether, 6,54,506 prizes were distributed. That’s more than half a million people who walked away with something. Not everyone got rich. But almost everyone got something.
A Discrepancy That Almost Cost Someone
Here’s the twist: For about 45 minutes after the draw, Republic World reported the first prize winner as MR 501046. The error spread fast. Social media lit up. WhatsApp groups buzzed. People in Thrissur and Kochi were already drafting celebratory messages to friends who’d bought that number. Then came the official document — serial number 74968 — from the Directorate of State Lotteries. MR 184440. Confirmed. The correction came swiftly, but the near-miss exposed how fragile trust is in these systems. One typo. One delayed update. And a thousand people could’ve wasted hours chasing a phantom win.How to Claim — And What You Lose
Winning isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of paperwork. To claim any prize above ₹5,000, you need the original ticket, a photo ID, and a bank account. The Directorate of State Lotteries deducts tax under the Indian Income Tax Act before releasing funds. That means the ₹1 crore winner won’t walk out with a crore. After tax, it’s closer to ₹70-75 lakh. The system doesn’t punish winners — it just follows the law. But it’s a sobering reminder: luck comes with conditions.Agents like Thankamma K get their 12% commission automatically — no claim needed. But the ticket holder? They’ve got 30 days to come forward. After that? The prize reverts to the state. No warnings. No reminders. Just silence.
Why This Matters Beyond the Numbers
The Kerala State Lottery isn’t just a game. It’s a social safety net disguised as entertainment. Every ₹50 ticket buys more than a chance — it funds public schools, health clinics, and rural infrastructure. In a state where formal employment is scarce for many, the lottery is a quiet engine of hope. Over 1.2 million tickets are sold weekly. That’s over 1.2 million people betting on a better tomorrow. And every Sunday, someone wins.It’s also a reminder of how deeply local these systems are. The agent in Alappuzha. The clerk in Irinjalakuda. The man who queues up every week with the same ₹50 note, hoping this time. These aren’t faceless participants. They’re neighbors. Cousins. Teachers. Truck drivers. The lottery doesn’t just hand out money — it weaves itself into the fabric of daily life.
What’s Next? The Cycle Continues
The next draw — Samrudhi SM-13 — is set for Sunday, July 27, 2025, at 3 PM IST, back at Gorky Bhavan. The format won’t change. The prize pool won’t change. But someone’s life might. Again.For now, the winner in Alappuzha is probably still staring at the ticket. Maybe they’ve called their mother. Maybe they’ve locked it in a drawer. Maybe they’re too scared to believe it’s real. That’s the quiet magic of this game. It doesn’t shout. It waits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify if my Kerala lottery ticket is a winner?
Check the official results on keralalotteries.net — the only authorized source. Match your full ticket number, not just the last four digits. Third-party sites like GoodReturns or News18 are helpful but may have delays. Always cross-reference with the Directorate’s published document (e.g., serial no. 74968 for this draw) to avoid misinformation.
What documents do I need to claim my prize?
For prizes over ₹5,000, you must present the original ticket, a government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, or driver’s license), and a bank account in your name. Agents cannot claim on your behalf. Prizes below ₹5,000 can be claimed at authorized retailers, but larger amounts require a visit to the Directorate of State Lotteries in Thiruvananthapuram or a regional office.
How much tax is deducted from Kerala lottery winnings?
Under Section 194B of the Income Tax Act, 30% tax is deducted at source for winnings above ₹10,000. For the ₹1 crore prize, that means approximately ₹30 lakh is withheld. No deductions apply to prizes under ₹10,000. The Directorate handles the deduction automatically — winners receive the net amount after tax. No additional filing is required unless the winner has other taxable income.
Can I claim a prize if I lost my ticket?
No. The Kerala State Lottery strictly follows the principle that the ticket is the only proof of ownership. Photocopies, screenshots, or agent records are not accepted. Once a ticket is lost or damaged, the prize is forfeited. This is why winners are advised to sign the back of the ticket immediately and store it securely — often in a safety deposit box.
Why does Kerala run state lotteries when other states don’t?
Kerala is the only Indian state with a legal, government-run lottery system, established in 1967 to generate non-tax revenue for public welfare. Proceeds fund education, healthcare, and rural development. While other states banned lotteries in the 1990s over concerns of addiction and fraud, Kerala’s strict regulation, transparency, and reinvestment model have kept it viable — and popular — for over five decades.
How often are Samrudhi lottery draws held, and what does SM-12 mean?
Samrudhi draws occur every Sunday at 3 PM IST. The "SM" stands for "Samrudhi Monthly," and the number (like SM-12) indicates the draw’s sequence in the year. SM-12 was the 12th draw of 2025. The series cycles through 52 weekly draws annually, with prize amounts fixed per tier. The next draw, SM-13, will follow the same format on July 27, 2025.