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AIADMK’s Lalgudi campaigner Leema Rose Martin
NEW DELHI: AIADMK’s Lalgudi campaigner Leema Rose Martin has emerged arsenic the richest contestant successful the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, declaring assets worthy astir Rs 1,049.56 crore successful her predetermination affidavit filed up of the April 23 polls.The 58-year-old, woman of lottery businessman Santiago Martin, filed her information papers connected Monday. Her affidavit shows movable assets worthy Rs 139.62 crore and immovable assets worthy Rs 909.94 crore, putting her up of different high-value candidates successful the race, including Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) main Vijay, who has declared assets worthy implicit Rs 603 crore.The 159-page affidavit shows that her immovable properties are dispersed crossed aggregate districts, including Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Tiruppur.
She besides owns cultivation holdings successful Kerala and adjacent New Delhi. Her yearly income for the 2024-25 fiscal twelvemonth was reported astatine Rs 9.82 crore.The candidate’s acquisition qualification is listed arsenic Class VI. The affidavit besides states that she has concern interests successful existent estate, gaming and the hospitality sector.Her husband, Santiago Martin, has declared movable assets worthy Rs 3,262.01 crore and immovable assets worthy Rs 887.36 crore.
Her son, Jose Charles Martin, who is contesting from Puducherry connected a BJP ticket, has reported assets totalling implicit Rs 664 crore. Her son-in-law, TVK Villivakkam campaigner Aadhav Arjuna, has declared full assets worthy Rs 197 crore.The affidavit notes that some Leema Rose Martin and her hubby each ain 3 TVS XL mopeds. Their idiosyncratic conveyance postulation besides includes a Hyundai Creta and a Mahindra Thar.Rose has disclosed 4 pending transgression cases against her.
A important information of her ineligible matters relates to proceedings initiated by the Income Tax Department. These cases impact the transportation of taxation assessments from Coimbatore to Kolkata, a determination that she and her daughter, Daisy Martin Aadhav Arjuna, unsuccessfully challenged successful the Madras High Court successful precocious 2024.As the woman of Santiago Martin, she has besides been named successful matters related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
These investigations typically stem from the Enforcement Directorate’s long-standing scrutiny of her husband’s lottery concern and alleged "proceeds of crime" totaling hundreds of crores.The cases are presently being handled successful assorted jurisdictions, including specialised courts successful Chennai and Kolkata.The Lalgudi spot is expected to witnesser a high-profile contention arsenic Tamil Nadu heads to the polls connected April 23, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
