Canadian Lottery Winner Retains CAD 2 Million Jackpot After Lawsuit by Coworkers
A Surrey man who won a CAD 2 million lottery jackpot successfully defended his prize in court after four coworkers claimed a share of the winnings.

Coworkers Demand a Share
In August 2023, Mandeep Singh Maan struck gold, winning a CAD 2 million BC/49 jackpot. However, the joyous occasion turned sour when four coworkers from his freight company alleged that they were entitled to a fifth of the prize.
The group, which had participated in an informal lottery syndicate, claimed that the winning ticket was purchased as part of their pool. Seeing Maan holding a celebratory CAD 2 million check, the colleagues—Balvinder Kaur Nagar, Binipal Singh Sanghera, Jeevan Pedan, and Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu—felt betrayed and took legal action.
Evidence Fails to Support the Claim
The case reached the British Columbia Supreme Court, where Justice Liliane Bantourakis reviewed the evidence. Her findings cast doubt on the plaintiffs’ claims.
While the group maintained they had a longstanding lottery pool, their WhatsApp messages revealed a sporadic history. Over 14 months, they collectively purchased just 16 tickets. In contrast, Maan was a dedicated lottery player, spending CAD 400 monthly on tickets for himself.
Lottery records showed that the winning CAD 12 ticket was purchased at a gas station, with no indication it was tied to the group’s pool. Moreover, one plaintiff’s assertion that they contributed money to the ticket purchase was deemed unreliable.
Court Rules in Favor of Maan
On January 15, 2025, Justice Bantourakis ruled that the plaintiffs had no legal right to the winnings. She found no evidence to support their claims and dismissed allegations that Maan’s behavior suggested guilt.
Maan expressed relief at the outcome and told The Vancouver Sun that he intends to keep his job, stating:
“Leaving would feel like admitting defeat or guilt, and I’m neither.”