https://udaipurkiran.com/ed-raids-youtuber-anurag-dwivedis-properties-in-illegal-online-gambling-case/#google_vignette
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Kolkata zonal office conducted raids at multiple locations linked to illegal online gambling and betting networks. The searches were carried out between December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, across nine sites in Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Lucknow, and Varanasi.
The action was taken under the Prevention of money laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The primary focus of the raids was social media influencer and YouTuber Anurag Dwivedi, along with premises associated with various online gaming and betting applications.
ED’s investigation suggests that Anurag Dwivedi actively promoted illegal betting platforms and laundered the proceeds of crime through hawala channels to invest in real estate in Dubai. During the raids, two luxury cars belonging to Dwivedi—a Land Rover Defender and a BMW Z4—were seized and frozen under PMLA provisions. Several suspicious documents, digital devices, and other incriminating materials were also recovered.
This operation follows earlier raids conducted on December 17, 2025, when ED searched ten locations connected to Anurag Dwivedi in Lucknow, Unnao, and Delhi. At that time, four luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes, Ford Endeavour, and Mahindra Thar, along with nearly ₹20 lakh in cash, incriminating documents, and digital equipment were confiscated.
The probe revealed that properties were purchased in Dubai through hawala transactions. ED has frozen assets worth approximately ₹3 crore, including movable property, insurance policies, fixed deposits, and bank balances under Section 17(1A) of the PMLA.
The investigation began based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the West Bengal Police, which named Sonu Kumar Thakur and Vishal Bhardwaj from Siliguri for running an online betting panel using fake bank accounts and digital platforms.
Further inquiry revealed that Anurag Dwivedi promoted this platform and obtained a Proof of Concept (POC) to invest in Dubai. Currently, Dwivedi is residing in Dubai and has not appeared for questioning despite multiple summons issued by the ED.
So far, three individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. On August 1, 2025, the Special Court (PMLA) in Kolkata filed a prosecution complaint. ED has frozen or attached movable assets worth nearly ₹27 crore linked to the entire network.
The ED stated that the investigation is ongoing, with potential for more arrests and asset seizures.
