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Last Updated Wednesday November 25 2020 09:54 AM IST

John's jackpot dream crashes too soon as namesake wins Rs 20cr raffle

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Winner of Rs 20 crore lottery: A case of mistaken identity John Varghese, manager at Sheraton Hotel in Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi, with his family.

Abu Dhabi: Forty-year-old John Varghese enjoyed being the winner of Abu Dhabi Big Ticket raffle worth over Rs 20 crore for a brief period. Messages and calls congratulating him flooded to his phone.

However, he soon realized that the prize belong to another John Varghese. Finally, he had to announce on Facebook that the winner was somebody else and requested everyone to stop congratulating him.

The winner of the Big Ticket was announced on Tuesday morning. The prize went to one John Varghese belonging to India. More details were not available. Hearing the news, everybody who knew John Varghese, who works as outlet manager at Sheraton Hotel in Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi, decided that the Kottayam, Puthuppally native was the winner.

John Varghese began receiving back-to-back phone calls. The callers had no doubt that their 'Achayan', who regularly tried his luck at the Big Ticket lottery, was indeed the lucky guy.

John Varghese explains what happened next. "I received the first call while driving. A close friend from Dubai congratulated me and shouted, 'Achayo, you have hit the jackpot'. Being busy making arrangements to return to Kerala after ending my NRI life, I did not understand what he said. Then my friend said, 'You have won the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket lottery of Rs 21 crore.' Jesus! I cried out and my eyes filled with tears of joy," he said.

However, John Varghese had a doubt. It was just two days after the April Fool's Day. Wasn't his friend playing a prank? While the thought was passing through his mind, several other calls followed, all congratulating him for winning the lottery.

John Varghese parked his car on the roadside and called his wife at his apartment. But she did not pick up the phone and he became tense.

Winner of Rs 20 crore lottery: A case of mistaken identity

John Varghese had regularly purchased the Big Ticket lottery during the past five months and had watched the draw live except the last one. He cursed himself for not finding time to watch this draw also.

To end the suspense, John Varghese called up the office of the Big Ticket. Then, the reality dawned upon him – he is not the lucky man. Another John Varghese had won the big prize. Still, the phone calls continued.

John Varghese told everyone who congratulated him that the news about his good fortune was a big mistake. His friends thought that he was trying to avoid them.

Soon, calls came from strangers. They told John Varghese about their financial problems, bank-credit card loans, serious ailments, house construction and several other needs.

John Varghese wondered how all these people traced his number. "I also realized that there are so many people here facing a multitude of problems. However, I can offer them only my sympathies. I am sad that I cannot help anyone of them. Friends, I am helpless," said the unlucky John Varghese.

Winner of Rs 20 crore lottery: A case of mistaken identity

After reaching home, John Varghese posted on his Facebook page, "Dear friends, I too had purchased a Big Ticket, but the winner is not me. The prize-winning number is different. Thank you for all those who congratulated me. And, for God's sake, don't call me again over this matter."

Even after the Facebook post, John Varghese continues to receive phone calls, as wells as Whatsapp and Messenger messages congratulating him. All of which have made John Varghese feel like a winner.

He is now planning to start a business in his home town.

It was later revealed that the real winner was John Varghese, who works as a driver in Dubai.

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