Kolkata, Aug 9 (UNI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached movable assets worth Rs 14.29 crore allegedly lying in 80 mule bank accounts in connection with illegal online betting, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), official sources said.
Investigation revealed that multiple mule accounts were used for the collection of illegal online betting proceeds, and the money was routed through several shell entities.
This followed an FIR filed by the Siliguri Police Commissionerate, North Bengal, under the West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competitions Act, 1957.
The ED said the online betting apps were operating in a formal corporate structure and were giving panels/franchises to suspect individuals on a rental basis for running illegal betting operations.
The apps had various departments, including customer acquisition groups, call centres, accounts departments, and customer winnings settlement departments, operating through WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels in a clandestine manner.
Investigation further revealed that payments to procure the betting panels were made in cryptocurrency such as USDT.
Earlier, on June 3, the ED conducted search operations under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002, at various premises across West Bengal, Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam linked to a racket operating mule accounts and illegal betting/gambling networks. During the searches, various incriminating documents and digital devices were seized.
One Vishal Bhardwaj alias Badal Bhardwaj and Sonu Kumar Thakur were arrested under PMLA, 2002, on June 3. Another suspect, Abhishek Bansal, was also taken into custody for investigation in the case. All three accused are now in judicial custody.
The central agency also froze around 1,130 mule bank accounts holding balances of up to Rs10.20 crore, unearthed during the raids.
A prosecution complaint has recently been filed against 10 accused persons, and a pre-cognizance order has been issued by the special court in the matter. The investigation is under progress.
