#e4mExclusive:  Gameskraft money laundering probe widens; ED raids more entities

The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into Gameskraft Technologies has widened beyond the gaming company.

e4m has learnt that raids had been conducted at several other companies, including Nirdesa Network, InMobi Technology Services and some other entities related to Gameskraft. According to ED the raids were conducted to simultaneously piece together what it alleges is a sophisticated bot-driven ecosystem used to influence real-money games.

The information is part of the agency's provisional attachment order (a copy of which is with e4m) in the alleged money laundering case against Gameskraft, where investigators have relied on employee statements, digital evidence, internal records and recorded examinations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to build their case.

InMobi did not respond to e4m's queries till the time of publishing.

Bot network at the core of ED's allegations

The attachment order are the ED's allegations that Gameskraft deployed automated bot accounts on its real-money rummy platform to participate in cash games while appearing as genuine players.

According to investigators, these bots were not merely tools used for software testing or product development. Instead, the agency alleges they were actively integrated into live gaming operations, enabling automated participation in contests involving real money. The ED contends that such deployment could materially influence player outcomes while creating an impression of healthy player liquidity on the platform.

The agency claims these findings are supported by backend records, technical documents and digital evidence collected during search operations.

Employee statements and recorded examinations

A significant portion of the ED's case rests on statements recorded from current and former Gameskraft employees under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

According to the attachment order, investigators questioned multiple executives and employees regarding the existence, functioning and management of bot accounts. During these examinations, officials confronted employees with internal emails, backend data, technical records and digital communications recovered during searches.

The order states that while certain executives denied knowledge of bot deployment, those denials were allegedly contradicted by statements made by other employees as well as documentary evidence collected by the agency. 

The ED has relied on these recorded conversations to argue that inconsistencies in employee testimonies corroborate its allegations regarding the use of automated players.

Investigators have also relied on what they describe as internal communications and technical discussions among employees while reconstructing the alleged bot ecosystem.

Backend records allegedly tracked 'BOT Revenue'

The attachment order cites several internal terminologies that investigators believe point towards systematic monitoring of automated accounts. These include references such as "BOT Revenue," "BOT Loss" and "BOT Players" in backend systems and internal records.

According to the ED, these references indicate that bot-related performance was measured alongside regular player activity rather than being limited to isolated software testing.

Investigators allege that internal dashboards and backend databases contained dedicated metrics tracking bot participation, revenue generation and operational performance. The agency argues that these records demonstrate a structured mechanism for monitoring automated accounts over a sustained period.

Digital evidence forms backbone of investigation

Beyond employee testimonies, the ED has relied extensively on digital evidence recovered during searches.

According to the attachment order, investigators analysed electronic records, internal emails, database extracts, chat communications and technical documents while reconstructing the alleged functioning of the bot ecosystem. The agency contends that these materials corroborate employee statements and establish links between internal operational discussions and backend implementation.

The order suggests investigators identified references to bot deployment across multiple internal systems and technical records, which they believe demonstrate planning, execution and monitoring of automated participation in games.

Potential implications for the gaming industry

The investigation marks one of the most detailed enforcement examinations into the alleged use of bots within India's real-money gaming industry.

While online gaming companies have traditionally acknowledged the use of automated systems for software testing, onboarding and quality assurance, the ED's allegations concern bots allegedly participating in live cash games—an assertion that, if established, could have significant legal and regulatory implications for the sector.

The provisional attachment order represents the ED's version of events and forms part of an ongoing investigation. The allegations contained in the document are yet to be tested before the appropriate judicial forums. 

Gameskraft has previously contested regulatory proceedings initiated against it in separate matters, and the outcome of the money laundering investigation will ultimately depend on adjudication under the applicable legal framework.