The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized high-value assets, including luxury vehicles, and frozen bank accounts in a major crackdown on alleged illegal online betting, with popular YouTuber and social media influencer Anurag Dwivedi at the centre of the probe. The action follows searches at ten locations linked to the 26-year-old in Lucknow, Unnao, and Delhi.
Lavish Lifestyle and ED Seizures
During the searches, the federal agency seized four high-end cars: a Lamborghini Urus, a Mercedes, a Ford Endeavour, and a Thar. Incriminating documents, digital devices, and approximately Rs 20 lakh in cash were also confiscated. The ED stated that documents revealed investments in Dubai real estate via hawala channels.
Furthermore, movable assets worth around Rs 3 crore, including insurance policies, fixed deposits, and bank balances, have been frozen under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The total value of seized and frozen assets is estimated to be about Rs 20 crore.
The Dubai Wedding and Village Suspicions
The ED action came weeks after Dwivedi's home village, Khajur in Unnao district, was abuzz with news of his lavish wedding in Dubai. He had reportedly flown numerous family members to the UAE for the ceremony.
Villagers expressed long-held suspicions about his source of income. "We never knew what exactly he was doing or how he earned so much money," said Anil Kumar, a local resident. Another villager, Deepak Tiwari, noted the stark contrast when the ED team arrived, saying, "It felt as if the agency had more personnel than our entire village."
Village pradhan Manoj Kumar claimed Dwivedi's flashy lifestyle had a negative influence, leading some local youth to drop out of school in hopes of emulating him, only to end up in menial jobs.
The Illegal Betting Probe and YouTuber's Role
The ED initiated its investigation based on a West Bengal Police FIR against individuals operating illegal online betting activities. The probe found that accused persons Sonu Kumar Thakur and Vishal Bhardwaj were allegedly running an online betting panel from Siliguri using mule accounts and Telegram.
The agency alleges that Anurag Dwivedi played a significant role in promoting these illegal betting platforms. He is accused of receiving proceeds of crime through hawala and mule accounts and creating promotional videos to lure the public into placing bets.
"Large sums were received in the bank accounts of his companies and in the accounts of his family members without corresponding legitimate commercial justification," the ED claimed. The probe suggests he used these illicit funds to acquire properties abroad, particularly in Dubai.
Current Status and Absconding Accused
The ED stated that Dwivedi is currently in Dubai and has not responded to multiple summonses. It appears he left India after generating the alleged proceeds of crime. The agency has already arrested three persons in the case and filed a prosecution complaint before the Special PMLA Court in Kolkata on August 1. Further investigation is ongoing.
Anurag Dwivedi, who describes himself as a fantasy cricket expert, boasts 7.11 million YouTube subscribers and 2.4 million Instagram followers. His father, a former gram pradhan, was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts.
