Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bengaluru Zonal Office has intensified its probe against Chitradurga MLA KC Veerendra in connection with a massive illegal online betting and money laundering case under the PMLA, 2002.
On September 6, ED officials carried out searches in Challakere, seizing 24-carat gold bullion weighing 21.43 kg, 11 gold-coated silver bars weighing 10.985 kg, and nearly 1 kg of gold jewellery valued at around ₹24 crore. With this, the cumulative seizure of Proceeds of Crime (POC) in the case has now exceeded ₹100 crore, ED said.
Custody Extended, New Findings Emerge
Earlier, on September 4, the Special Court for People’s Representatives granted ED a further four-day extension of Veerendra’s custody after being presented with documentary evidence linking him to laundering of crime proceeds. Investigations have revealed that the accused was operating multiple illegal betting websites under the names King567, Raja567, Lion567, Play567, Playwin567, among others.
The agency also found that several payment gateways were being used to route betting proceeds through intermediary accounts, obscuring the origins of illicit funds.
Lavish Spending, Fake Bookings Exposed
According to ED, Veerendra, along with family members and associates, had booked several international travel tickets worth crores of rupees, allegedly funded through illicit betting proceeds. Investigators believe these high-value transactions were laundered via multiple mule accounts to conceal their true origin.
Luxury Cars Under Scrutiny
The probe also unearthed several high-end luxury vehicles linked to Veerendra and his family, though registered under different names. Among them:
- A Mercedes-Benz GLS 400 D 4MATIC (KA55P0003) registered in the name of M/s ABH Infrastructures (Anil Gowda).
- A Range Rover (KA45N0003) funded by Gulshan Khattar of Fonepaisa.
ED suspects these assets were acquired using laundered funds.
Investigation Ongoing
With seizures already crossing the ₹100 crore mark, the ED stated that further investigation is underway to trace additional assets, shell accounts, and accomplices in the high-profile betting racket.
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