Online betting case: Congress MLA K C Veerendra ‘Puppy’ in 5-day ED custody

Bengaluru: A Bengaluru court on Sunday remanded Congress MLA K C Veerendra ‘Puppy’ in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for five days. 

The Chitradurga legislator was arrested on August 23 from Gangtok, Sikkim, in a money-laundering case related to illegal online and offline betting. 

He was brought to Bengaluru late Saturday night on a transit warrant and taken straightaway to the ED office in Shanthinagar from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) amid tight security. 

After undergoing medical tests, Puppy was produced before a judge on Sunday morning. He has been remanded in ED custody until August 28 for further interrogation. 

On August 22, the ED carried out a large-scale raid at 31 locations in different parts of India, including in Gangtok, Chitradurga, Bengaluru, Hubballi, Jodhpur and Mumbai.

The searches in Goa focused on Puppy’s Casino Gold, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppy’s Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino and Big Daddy Casino. 

The ED said it had recovered Rs 12 crore in cash, including Rs 1 crore in foreign currency - bundles of 100 US Dollars, 10 and 20 British pounds, 500 Dirhams and 100 and 50 Euro notes. The agency further claimed that searches indicated a complex layering of cash and other funds. 

“The search has revealed that the accused is running several online betting sites in the name of King567, Raja567, etc. Further, the brother K C Thippeswamy of the accused is operating three business entities from Dubai, viz, Diamond Softech, TRS Technologies, and Prime9Technologies, related to the call centre services and gaming business of K C Veerendra ‘Puppy’,” the ED said in an official statement. 

ED investigators also recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 6 crore, silver articles weighing approximately 10 kg. Four vehicles were also impounded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. 

“Further, 17 bank accounts and two bank lockers were also frozen. Many property-related documents were also seized from the premises of the brother K C Nagaraj and his son Pruthvi N Raj. Several incriminating documents were also seized from several premises. His other associates, namely brother K C Thippeswamy, and Pruthvi N Raj, are handling operations of online gaming from Dubai. Further, it was revealed that K C Veerendra, along with his associates, had travelled to Gangtok via Bagdogra on a business visit to lease a land casino,” the ED said. 

Highlights - He was brought to Bengaluru late Saturday night on a transit warrant and taken straightaway to the ED office in Shanthinagar from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) amid tight security