logo
Vigilance to record statements of new complainants in ED bribery case in Kerala

Vigilance to record statements of new complainants in ED bribery case in Kerala

VACB has so far arrested Wilson, Mukesh Jain—a Rajasthan native based in Kochi—and chartered accountant Renjith Warrier in connection with the case. ED assistant director Shekar Kumar is named as the first accused.
'All of them were approached by Wilson, who allegedly demanded bribes to halt ED investigations against them. We are currently probing whether the ED officer has any direct connection with the arrested individuals. Any action against the officer will only be taken based on solid evidence. The investigation is now at a crucial stage,' the official said.
The three arrested individuals will remain in VACB custody till Thursday. A team led by VACB SP S Sasidharan, along with two DySPs, is handling the interrogation. The ED officer will be questioned later.
'The officer's statement is necessary as he is an accused in the case. However, it will be recorded only after we complete evidence collection and obtain maximum information from the other accused individuals,' the VACB officer said.
Meanwhile, the ED has denied any connection to the bribery case, claiming it is part of a conspiracy by the complainant to derail the probe against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

ED records Raina's statement in illegal betting probe
ED records Raina's statement in illegal betting probe

Hindustan Times

time12 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

ED records Raina's statement in illegal betting probe

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday recorded the statement of cricketer Suresh Raina in connection with its larger money laundering probe against several illegal online betting platforms, which use multiple platforms for surrogate advertisements and collect funds from their users, officials said. Former cricketer Suresh Raina. (PTI) The former India player reached the ED headquarters at around 11 am and was examined till evening. Raina's statement was recorded under the prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) for endorsing a sports betting app, which indulged in illegal practices. An officer, without naming the player, said 'another former Indian cricketer has also been asked to appear before the agency.' ED is calling several celebrities to understand their links with the betting apps, any endorsement fee earned and the mode of communication between them. Earlier, the agency had called the representatives of Google and Meta for questioning as part of this probe. The financial crimes probe agency is probing multiple illegal online betting platforms and has questioned tech firms, media houses' representatives who have received money in the form of advertisements from them. Several platforms hosting illegal betting and gambling links, including instances of advertisements placed for them on various social media outlets and app stores, are under the ED scanner. In 2023, the Union ministry of information and broadcasting issued four advisories to newspapers, broadcast news channels, entertainment channels, publishers of online news and current affairs content, online advertisement intermediaries (like Google and Facebook), and social media platforms to not advertise online betting platforms. Despite these instructions from the Centre, eminent personalities in the field of entertainment and sports endorsed them. These actors and sportspersons are also under the ED's scanner and they could be summoned soon, according to an ED officer. According to the information gathered by ED over the past several months, multiple betting platforms, which have been banned over the years, still run their operations by changing names and are promoted by celebrities and social media influencers. 'These platforms are in violation of multiple laws and directions by the Indian government, including tax evasion, money laundering, and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) as money is transferred out of the country illegally. It is estimated that around 220 million Indian users are currently engaged on various betting apps, and 110 million of these are regular users,' said the officer. In just the first three months of 2025, more than 1.6 billion visits were recorded on illegal betting websites or apps and it is suspected that the online betting market in India might be worth around $100 million, the first ED officer said. 'The estimates also suggest that top betting apps are evading ₹27,000 crore in taxes every year,' the officer said. The government has issued 1,524 blocking orders against illegal gambling websites and mobile apps between 2022 and June 2025, as revealed in a response from the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) in the ongoing monsoon session.

ED questions Suresh Raina for 8 hours in illegal online betting app case
ED questions Suresh Raina for 8 hours in illegal online betting app case

News18

time22 minutes ago

  • News18

ED questions Suresh Raina for 8 hours in illegal online betting app case

New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday questioned former India cricketer Suresh Raina for more than eight hours in an alleged money laundering case linked to an illegal online betting app, official sources said. Raina (38) was seen interacting with CISF personnel and ED staff outside the agency's office in central Delhi before marking his attendance at around 11 am. He left the agency office around 8 pm. The federal probe agency recorded Raina's statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of its investigation linked to a sports betting application named 1xBet, the sources said. Raina, who played 18 Tests, 226 ODIs, and 78 T20Is for India, is understood to have been linked to the app through certain endorsements. The ED wanted to understand his links with the app, any endorsement fee earned and the mode of communication between the two parties, according to the sources. The agency recently called representatives of Google and Meta for questioning as part of its probe. It also conducted multi-state searches on Tuesday in connection with a similar investigation against an online betting app named Parimatch. The agency is probing multiple such cases involving illegal betting apps, which allegedly duped numerous people and investors worth crores of rupees or evaded a huge amount of taxes. According to estimates by market analysis firms and probe agencies, there are about 22 crore Indian users of various such online betting apps, out of which half (about 11 crore) are regular users. The online betting app market in India is worth over USD 100 billion, which is growing at a rate of 30 per cent, according to experts. The government last month told Parliament that it has issued 1,524 orders from 2022 till June 2025 to block online betting and gambling platforms. Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, told Lok Sabha in a written reply that the Directorate General of GST Intelligence headquarters is empowered as an appropriate government agency under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IGST Act to direct intermediaries to block unregistered online money gaming platforms, including offshore online money gaming platforms, violating the IGST Act. He said the suppliers of online money gaming are also being regulated under the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (IGST Act). 'Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, 'betting and gambling' is a state subject (entry 34 of the List II). Therefore, as per the provisions of Article 246 read with Article 162 of the Constitution, state legislatures have the power to legislate on matters related to betting and gambling," Prasada said. The minister also said the states and Union territories are primarily responsible for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes, including action against illegal betting and gambling. 'The Central government supplements the efforts of the states/Union territories through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for capacity building of their LEA," Prasada said. PTI NES PRS ARI view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Likes And Lies: Influencer Sandeepa Virk Arrested For Duping With 'Fake' Beauty Products Site
Likes And Lies: Influencer Sandeepa Virk Arrested For Duping With 'Fake' Beauty Products Site

News18

time42 minutes ago

  • News18

Likes And Lies: Influencer Sandeepa Virk Arrested For Duping With 'Fake' Beauty Products Site

Last Updated: Sandeepa Virk was arrested on August 12 following searches in Delhi and Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Instagram influencer Sandeepa Virk, owner of the beauty products website in connection with an alleged money laundering case. Virk was arrested on August 12 following searches in Delhi and Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and was remanded to ED custody till August 14 by a court for further investigation. According to the agency, Virk, who has 1.2 million Instagram followers, is accused of misrepresentation, cheating, and acquiring properties through fraudulent means. 'Allegations are that Virk and her associates have exerted undue influence through misrepresentation and defrauded individuals by soliciting money under false pretence," said ED in a statement on Wednesday. Sources said ED filed a money laundering case on Punjab Police FIR. Investigators claim that which Virk promoted as a seller of 'FDA-approved" beauty products, offered items that were non-existent. She had duped customers and amassed immovable properties, the investigators alleged. 'The limited product range, inflated pricing, false claims of FDA approval, and technical inconsistencies indicate that the website served as a front for laundering funds," the ED alleged. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store