The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) intensifying money laundering probe has cast a shadow over the extravagant Dubai destination wedding of Unnao-based YouTuber and social media influencer Anurag Dwivedi. The lavish celebrations, estimated to have cost several crores of rupees, are now under official scrutiny as investigators allege the opulence was financed through proceeds from illegal betting operations.
A Wedding Extravaganza on the High Seas
In November 2025, Anurag Dwivedi married his long-time partner Tamanna in a grand ceremony aboard the iconic Queen Elizabeth-2 cruise ship in Dubai, marking the culmination of their 12-year relationship. The wedding festivities were nothing short of spectacular, featuring traditional haldi and mehendi ceremonies followed by the main event on the cruise's open deck.
Dwivedi reportedly flew more than 130 guests to Dubai on five separate flights, covering the entire cost of international air travel, visas, accommodation, meals, and sightseeing. For many guests, it was their first trip abroad. In a remarkable gesture, he even facilitated the issuance of passports for those who did not possess one.
The guests were treated to luxury stays across more than 25 hotel rooms, with dedicated transport and tours to iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Creek. Attendees revealed that the spending on travel and lodging alone averaged between Rs 90,000 to Rs 1 lakh per guest. With additional expenses for the cruise booking, elaborate décor, logistics, and celebrity performances, the total wedding budget ran into multiple crores. The high-profile event was further amplified by live performances from a prominent Bollywood playback singer and an actor.
The ED's Money Laundering Investigation
This spectacle of wealth is now central to an ED investigation that alleges Dwivedi's links to illegal betting apps, hawala transactions, and dubious overseas investments. The agency has conducted searches at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, resulting in frozen bank accounts, seizure of cash, and the impounding of luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini and a Mercedes, from his Unnao residence.
The case originated from a 2022 FIR filed by the West Bengal Police after a raid in Siliguri uncovered an organised betting operation linked to online platforms used during major cricket tournaments. The subsequent fund-trail analysis led investigators to accounts connected to Dwivedi and his associates.
The ED alleges that Dwivedi, who boasts over 2.3 million followers online and projects himself as the "face of fantasy cricket," used his influence to promote illegal betting platforms. Investigators claim he laundered the proceeds through a complex network of firms, family members, mule accounts, and hawala channels.
Assets Frozen and Dubai Links Probed
Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED has frozen bank balances, fixed deposits, and insurance policies worth approximately Rs 3 crore. The agency's Kolkata Zonal Office, which carried out searches at 10 premises, recovered incriminating documents, digital devices, and around Rs 20 lakh in cash.
Scrutiny of seized documents indicates that substantial sums were credited to the accounts of Dwivedi's companies and family members without legitimate commercial justification. Officials allege these funds, termed "proceeds of crime," were used to acquire immovable properties outside India, particularly in Dubai. The total value of movable and immovable assets linked to Dwivedi is estimated to be around Rs 20 crore.
The ED has identified Dwivedi's connection to several firms, including:
- Fantwear Fashion
- RP Greens India
- DSD Sports and Media
- Bhumideva Projects
Investigators state that after generating income from promoting illegal betting websites, Dwivedi left India and is currently residing in Dubai. He has been issued multiple summons but has failed to appear before the agency. Earlier, in August 2025, the ED arrested three individuals and filed a prosecution complaint before the Special PMLA Court in Kolkata, also freezing and attaching movable assets worth Rs 23.7 crore in the matter.
Lifestyle at Odds with Public Persona
While Dwivedi has often emphasised his middle-class roots on social media, investigators argue that his lavish lifestyle—characterised by luxury cars, overseas properties, and the multi-crore cruise wedding—contradicts those claims. The Dubai wedding has become emblematic of the opulence now under the microscope, with authorities determined to establish if it was funded by illicit activities.
As the ED continues its raids and investigations, the story of Anurag Dwivedi's wedding serves as a stark case study of the alleged nexus between social media influence, illegal online betting, and high-stakes money laundering.
