New York: An Indian-origin man has been formally charged after allegedly stealing a lottery ticket worth $1 million from a customer at a petrol station in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The incident has drawn significant attention due to the value of the stolen ticket and the circumstances of the theft.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Meer Patel, was arrested following a detailed investigation by the local police. The controversy began when a customer, unaware of the ticket’s true value, asked Patel to verify if it was a winning ticket. Patel reportedly informed the customer that the ticket had won a minor prize, paid out the small amount, and disposed of the ticket in the trash bin.
The plot thickened when, after the customer departed, Patel retrieved the ticket from the trash, fully scratched off the covered portion, and discovered it was actually a $1 million winner. The subsequent police investigation led to Patel’s arrest, highlighting a shocking breach of trust at the retail level.