ED attached Immovable Properties worth Rs.8.89 crore in Illegal Online Satta Matka Betting

The Directorate of Enforcement(ED) has provisionally attached movable/ immovable properties valued at approximately Rs. 8.89 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, which were discovered to be obtained from Proceeds of Crime in the case of illegal online Satta Matka betting.

The properties that are attached consist of five bank accounts and ten immovable properties. The accounts list the names of different accused individuals, including the main mastermind Lokesh Verma, alias Raja Verma.

The ED started the search operation based on the FIR registered and the chargesheet filed by the Madhya Pradesh Police for the offences registered under various sections of the IPC, 1860 and the Public Gambling Act, 1867.

During the searches, they uncovered illegal online betting apps, including Dhangames and other Satta Matka apps, that were being operated in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and other regions of the country to “lure” people, the ED said.

The app allowed users to register via mobile number and transfer money to Dhangames wallet via UPI and also indulge in betting.

The illegal money acquired through these Satta Matka Apps were laundered through a web of fake bank accounts opened by Lokesh Verma in the name of fake people by misusing their KYC documents to operate betting activities.

Through betting operations, Lokesh Verma in connivance with others generated proceeds of crime of approximately Rs. 25 crore.

Further searches are in process.