YouTuber Anurag Dwivedi under ED scanner for illegal betting

YouTuber and social media influencer Anurag Dwivedi has come under the Enforcement Directorate’s radar for his alleged involvement in promoting illegal online betting platforms, with the agency seizing luxury vehicles, cash and freezing assets worth nearly ₹3 crore during searches conducted across three cities.

According to officials, the ED’s Kolkata zonal office carried out coordinated searches at 10 locations in Lucknow, Unnao and Delhi as part of a money laundering investigation linked to illegal gambling operations. The searches resulted in the seizure of four high-end vehicles — including a Lamborghini Urus valued at over ₹4 crore — along with a Mercedes-Benz, a Ford Endeavour and a Mahindra Thar. Around ₹20 lakh in cash was also recovered, besides digital devices and documents.

The agency said it froze movable assets worth approximately ₹3 crore, including bank balances, fixed deposits and insurance policies, invoking provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Preliminary scrutiny of seized material has allegedly revealed that a portion of the funds was diverted abroad, with suspected real estate investments made in Dubai through hawala channels.

The probe originates from an FIR registered by West Bengal Police against individuals accused of running illegal online betting platforms. The ED claims that betting panels were operated from Siliguri by Sonu Kumar Thakur and Vishal Bhardwaj, who allegedly used mule bank accounts, Telegram channels and other digital platforms to manage betting transactions.

Investigators allege that Dwivedi played a crucial role in popularising these betting apps by creating promotional content on social media, using his online following to draw users to the platforms. The ED claims that proceeds generated from illegal betting were routed to him through hawala networks and mule accounts, with substantial sums credited to accounts linked to his companies and family members without any legitimate business explanation.

The agency has further alleged that the influencer used part of the illicit proceeds to acquire assets overseas, particularly in Dubai. Officials said Dwivedi is believed to have left India and is currently residing abroad. Despite multiple summons being issued, he has not appeared before the agency for questioning.

Earlier, the ED arrested three accused in the case and filed a prosecution complaint before a special PMLA court in Kolkata on August 1, 2025. Assets worth ₹23.7 crore had already been attached as part of the investigation. The probe is ongoing.