Illegal betting scam: Seizure of proceeds of crime by K’taka Cong MLA Veerendra & others crosses Rs 100 crore
ED Busts Illegal Betting Racket: Seizures Top Rs 100 Crore in Congress MLA K.C. Veerendra Case
Bengaluru’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) just dropped a big update on the illegal online betting scam linked to Congress MLA K.C. Veerendra. On Tuesday, they revealed that total seizures from this money laundering case have now crossed Rs 100 crore. This comes after fresh raids that uncovered a stash of gold worth Rs 24 crore.
The ED’s Bengaluru Zonal Office kicked off searches on September 6 in Challekere under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. They targeted MLA K.C. Veerendra and his associates for allegedly cheating people through shady online betting operations. During these raids, the team seized 21.43 kg of 24-carat gold bullion, 10.985 kg of gold-coated silver bars, and nearly 1 kg of gold jewellery—all valued at around Rs 24 crore. With this latest haul, the overall proceeds of crime seized in the illegal betting scam now exceed Rs 100 crore.
These actions happened while the prime accused, Chitradurga MLA K.C. Veerendra, was in ED custody. Just days earlier, on September 4, a special court for people’s representatives extended his custody by four days. The court based this on solid documentary evidence showing how he generated and laundered money from the scam, giving the ED more time to dig deeper.
Investigators uncovered that Veerendra and his crew ran multiple online betting sites under names like King567, Raja567, Lion567, Play567, and Playwin567. They used various payment gateways to route the cash collected from these platforms, making it tough to trace.
The probe also exposed how Veerendra, his family, and aides splurged on international travel tickets worth crores of rupees. They funded these trips through a web of mule accounts tied to the illegal online betting proceeds. Evidence shows the money came from these illicit activities, then got funneled through layers of intermediary accounts to hide its dirty origins.
Adding to the luxury lifestyle revelations, the ED found several high-end cars linked to Veerendra and his family. These vehicles are registered under different names to dodge scrutiny. For instance, a Mercedes-Benz GLS 400 D 4MATIC (KA55P0003) is in the name of M/s ABH Infrastructures owned by Anil Gowda. Another is a Range Rover (KA45N0003) funded by Gulshan Khattar of Fonepaisa.
The ED says the investigation into this illegal betting scam and money laundering case is ongoing, with more details expected to emerge. Stay tuned for updates on this high-profile ED raid in Bengaluru.
