Venugopal Mullacheri, a 52-year-old Indian expat from Kasaragod, Kerala, has won the USD 1 million (approx, INR 8.5 crore) Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw.
An Ajman resident and IT support specialist in the UAE for the past 15 years, Mullacheri had been trying his luck in the draw since he moved abroad.
He purchased the winning ticket on 23 April at the Arrivals shop in Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 2 while returning from a visit to his hometown. The announcement was made during a live draw streamed on Dubai Duty Free’s Facebook page on 7 May.
He was chosen from a pool of 5,000 participants from 123 countries. Mullacheri also became the draw’s 500th millionaire, as per an Instagram post from Dubai Duty Free.
“I’m thrilled to finally be one of the many winners it has created. Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free,” he said, as quoted by The Times Of India.
Expressing his joy, the father of two added, “It felt like a massive burden on my head and shoulders just vanished.”
Mullacheri’s win has brought cheer to his family and community back home.
