Surat: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Kolkata Zonal Office, conducted search operations on December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, at nine locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Lucknow and Varanasi in connection with an illegal online betting and gambling case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. These premises are linked to social media influencer and YouTuber Anurag Dwivedi, and various online gaming and betting applications suspected to be involved in the generation and laundering of proceeds of crime (POC). During the searches, two high-end cars — a Land Rover Defender and a BMW Z4 belonging to Anurag Dwivedi — were seized/frozen under the provisions of PMLA, 2002. Further, a number of incriminating documents and digital devices were also seized.

Earlier, on December 17, 2025, the ED conducted searches at 10 premises in Lucknow, Unnao and Delhi linked to Anurag Dwivedi. During those searches, four high-end vehicles — a Lamborghini Urus, a Mercedes, a Ford Endeavour and a Thar — along with incriminating documents, digital devices and cash of approximately ₹20 lakh were seized. The seized material revealed real estate investments in Dubai through hawala channels, and movable assets worth approximately ₹3 crore in the form of insurance policies, fixed deposits and bank balances were frozen under Section 17(1A) of the PMLA, 2002.

The ED initiated the investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the West Bengal Police in connection with illegal online betting operations. It was revealed that an online betting panel was being operated from Siliguri by accused persons Sonu Kumar Thakur and Vishal Bhardwaj using mule bank accounts and digital platforms. The ED’s investigation further established that Anurag Dwivedi actively promoted illegal betting platforms, received proceeds of crime through hawala channels and mule accounts, and acquired immovable properties in Dubai out of such proceeds. It was also found that he has left India, is presently residing in Dubai, and has failed to appear before the ED despite the issuance of multiple summons.

Earlier, in the same case, the ED had arrested three persons and filed a prosecution complaint before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Kolkata, on August 1, 2025. The ED had also frozen/attached movable assets worth approximately ₹27 crore in the case.

Further investigation is in progress. DeshGujarat