ED arrests Karnataka MLA in Gangtok over illegal betting network

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Karnataka Congress MLA K C Veerendra Puppy from Gangtok, Sikkim, under the anti-money laundering law in connection with an alleged illegal online and offline betting network. The operation, which involved raids at about 30 locations across multiple states, yielded cash totaling roughly Rs 12 crore, gold valued around Rs 6 crore, and silver around 10 kilograms, along with four vehicles. The ED said the 50-year-old legislator, who represents the Chitradurga assembly seat, was produced before a designated magistrate in Gangtok and remanded to transit to Bengaluru, where the Bengaluru zone of the ED is handling the case.

The raids, conducted on Friday and culminating in the arrest on Saturday, spanned Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa and Sikkim, with a focus on both online platforms and physical gambling venues. Five casinos in Goa—Puppys Casino Gold, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppys Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino and Big Daddy Casino—were among the locations raided. Officials indicated that online betting sites were operated under names such as King567, Raja567, Puppys003 and Rathna Gaming, among others. In addition to the physical sites, the ED...