Parlin College Student Wins $1.4 Million Lottery Prize

EDISON, NJ — A Parlin college student won the entire $1.4 million Jersey Cash prize earlier this year — and he bought the winning ticket at an Edison deli.

Chirayu P. (full last name not provided) grew up in Parlin, New Jersey with his aunt and uncle, but he's currently studying engineering at a Connecticut university. While on a recent visit home this April, he stopped by the Paradise Deli on Stephenville Parkway in Edison to buy a drink and a snack. Noticing that the Jersey Cash 5 jackpot was over $1 million, he purchased two Quick Pick game boards for the draw.

The following day, Chirayu checked the numbers and discovered that his numbers matched all of the winning numbers drawn. He had the sole winning ticket, capturing the entire $1,436,641 jackpot from the April 29, 2017 drawing.

Chirayu called his mother in India to let her know and she came to New Jersey to watch him claim the prize earlier this year. Chirayu said he will use some of the winnings to pay for his college education (no student loans!), buy a new car and buy some special gifts for his parents and family.

Chirayu will pay approximately $474,000 of his winnings in taxes: All Jersey Cash 5 payments are cash payments, not annuities. The IRS requires the New Jersey Lottery to withhold 25 percent from any prize of more than $5,000 for federal taxes. State law requires the New Jersey Lottery to withhold state tax at the rate of five percent from any prize in excess of $10,000 and up to $500,000 or eight percent from any prize in excess of $500,000.

Photo of Chiraya and his family provided by NJ Lottery.