India’s ED cites US$21.4m in assets in high-profile illegal online gambling case

Authorities say the assets were acquired with proceeds from illegal online gambling.

India.- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth INR1773m (US$21.4m) in connection with a nationwide illegal online betting and gambling operation allegedly linked to K.C. Veerendra, a Congress MLA representing the Chitradurga Assembly constituency in Karnataka.

The attachment, carried out on January 29 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, covers agricultural land, residential sites and other property that authorities say were acquired using proceeds from illegal online gambling. The action forms part of an investigation into what the ED describes as a large-scale and coordinated online gambling operation across multiple Indian states.

Investigators allege that the network used rigged online casino-style platforms and initially showed victims fake winnings to build confidence. Once larger sums were deposited, withdrawals were allegedly blocked, resulting in significant losses for players.

The ED said proceeds were channelled through payment gateways into designated payment aggregator accounts. Searches were conducted at more than 60 locations across several states leading to the seizure of cash, gold, jewellery, vehicles and documents. Veerendra was subsequently arrested under Section 19 of the PMLA, and a prosecution complaint has been filed before the designated special court.

See also:

See also: India probes betting site allegedly run by Pakistanis in the UAE

Authorities say the assets were acquired with proceeds from illegal online gambling. India.- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth INR1773m (US$21.4m) in connection with a nationwide illegal online betting and gambling operation allegedly linked to K.C. Veerendra, a Congress MLA representing the Chitradurga Assembly constituency in Karnataka. The attachment, carried out on…