At exactly 3:00 PM on Sunday, November 23, 2025, the air in Thiruvananthapuram grew heavier—not from humidity, but from anticipation. Inside Gorky Bhavan, near Bakery Junction, officials pulled the winning numbers for the Samrudhi SM-30 lottery draw. The first prize: ₹1 crore. The winner? Ticket number MV 258190, registered in KANNUR, sold by agent BABU C of NAMASHREE LOTTERY AGENCY (Agency No: C 4160). For one person, a quiet Sunday turned into a life-altering moment. For thousands more, it was a reminder that luck still walks the streets of Kerala, one ticket at a time.
The Winning Numbers and the Controversy
The Samrudhi SM-30 draw delivered more than just a jackpot—it delivered confusion. While BABU C is listed as the agent for the first prize by Goodreturns.in, Kerala Lottery Result Today Live 3PM claims it’s BABU T P. Same ticket. Same agency. Two names. No official correction yet.
The second prize of ₹25 lakh went to ticket MR 704459 from PALAKKAD. Here, too, the agent’s name splits: USHA SUNDARAM (as reported by Goodreturns.in, News18.com, and Freepressjournal.in) versus PASHA SUNDHARAM (per Freejobalert.com). The agency number—P 5808—is consistent. But names? Not so much.
Third prize: ₹5 lakh to ticket MO 243373 from KOLLAM. One source says agent MURUGESH THEVAR with agency Q 4314. Others say MURUKESH THEVAR with W 4314. The spelling difference matters—especially when claims are being processed. It’s not just a typo. It’s a potential roadblock for the winner.
Consolation Prizes and the Long Tail of Luck
While the big prizes grab headlines, the real story lies in the small wins. Eleven tickets won ₹5,000 each—not because they were perfect matches, but because they shared the final five digits of the first prize: 258190. The prefixes? MN, MO, MP, MR, MS, MT, MU, MW, MX, MY, MZ. That’s 11 people who didn’t win the crore, but still got enough to pay a month’s rent, buy a new phone, or take their kids to the movies.
Then came the fourth prize: ₹5,000 for tickets ending in 1693, 2341, 2933, 3820, 3827, 4694, 4778, 4879, 5014, 5032, 5904, 6190, 6972, 7605, 7642, 7816, 8046, 9812, and 9978. That’s 19 winning endings. Thousands of tickets. Hundreds of people, maybe more, who got a surprise boost.
Fifth prize: ₹2,000 for endings 3216, 3419, 6551, 7162, 8705, 8748. Sixth: ₹1,000 to 25 holders. Seventh: ₹500. Eighth: ₹200. Ninth: ₹100. The structure is meticulous. The Directorate of Kerala Lotteries doesn’t leave anything to chance. Even the smallest prize is calculated to keep hope alive.
Transparency—or the Illusion of It?
The Directorate of Kerala Lotteries insists the draw was overseen by independent officials. The results are posted on www.statelottery.kerala.gov.in, with the official PDF available by 4:00 PM. But here’s the twist: if you check multiple news sites, you get conflicting agent names, agency numbers, and even spellings. No official clarification followed. No press release corrected the discrepancies.
Is this a clerical error? Or a system that’s too big to be perfectly managed? Kerala’s lottery is one of the oldest and most trusted in India. It funds public welfare. It’s not a scam. But the inconsistencies? They erode trust—not in the system, but in its administration.
Compare this to the previous draw, Samrudhi SM-29 on November 16, 2025. That one had clean, unambiguous reporting. First prize: MF 294829 (Neyyattinkara). Second: MH 247803 (Thrissur). No confusion. No debate. So why the mess now?
What Happens Next?
The next draw—Samrudhi SM-31—is scheduled for November 30, 2025. Same time. Same place. Same ₹1 crore prize. The cycle continues. But winners have just 180 days to claim their prizes, according to KeralaLotteriesResults.in. That’s six months. Long enough to get your paperwork in order. Short enough to forget if you’re not paying attention.
For the winners, the real challenge begins now. Verifying the ticket. Finding the right agency. Navigating the bureaucracy. Many winners don’t know where to start. Some never claim. The state doesn’t chase them. It just waits.
The Bigger Picture
Kerala’s lottery isn’t just gambling. It’s social policy. Since 1967, the state has used lottery proceeds to fund schools, hospitals, and rural development. In 2024 alone, it generated over ₹1,800 crore in revenue. That’s money that would otherwise have to come from taxes. For a state with high literacy and low income inequality, it’s a pragmatic tool.
But with great revenue comes great responsibility. The public expects precision. When a ₹1 crore winner’s agent name changes between websites, it’s not just a typo. It’s a crack in the foundation of trust. The Directorate needs to fix its internal data flow. One official portal. One verified list. No discrepancies. No guesswork.
For now, the winner of MV 258190—whether BABU C or BABU T P—is likely celebrating quietly. Maybe they’ve already called their family. Maybe they’re still staring at the ticket, wondering if it’s real. One thing’s certain: in a country where ₹1 crore can change everything, the smallest error can change lives too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I verify if I won the Samrudhi SM-30 lottery?
Visit the official Kerala State Lottery website and download the PDF of the SM-30 results, available after 4:00 PM IST on November 23, 2025. Match your ticket number exactly—including the prefix and suffix. If your number matches any prize tier listed, contact the agent named on your ticket with your original receipt and ID. No online claims are accepted.
Why are there conflicting agent names for the same winning ticket?
The discrepancies appear to stem from inconsistent reporting across media outlets and possible data entry errors in the Directorate’s internal system. While the ticket numbers are confirmed, agent names and agency codes vary between sources. The Directorate has not issued a public correction, leaving winners in uncertainty. This highlights a need for centralized, real-time verification on the official portal.
What happens if I miss the 180-day claim deadline?
If you don’t claim your prize within 180 days of the draw date, the winnings are forfeited and transferred to the Kerala State Welfare Fund. There are no extensions, exceptions, or appeals. Even if you have the original ticket, the system automatically closes the claim after the deadline. Many winners lose out simply because they didn’t know the timeline or assumed someone else would notify them.
Are the Samrudhi lottery draws truly fair?
Yes. The draws are conducted live under the supervision of independent observers, including retired judges and government auditors. The ticket balls are randomized in sealed containers, and the process is recorded. While media reporting errors exist, there’s no evidence of manipulation. The real issue is administrative transparency—not integrity.
How often are Samrudhi lottery draws held?
Samrudhi draws occur weekly, every Sunday at 3:00 PM IST. The numbering follows a sequential pattern: SM-30, SM-31, and so on. The prize structure remains consistent—₹1 crore for first, ₹25 lakh for second, ₹5 lakh for third—with smaller consolation prizes awarded to hundreds of ticket holders each week. This regularity makes it one of the most predictable and widely followed lotteries in India.
Where does the money from Kerala Lottery go?
Approximately 60% of revenue from Kerala Lottery sales goes to prize payouts. Around 25% funds public welfare programs—including education, healthcare, and rural infrastructure. The remaining 15% covers administrative costs. Since 1967, the lottery has contributed over ₹50,000 crore to state development. It’s one of the few state-run gambling systems globally that reinvests the majority of its profits into public services.
