New Delhi, February 3
Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has issued a Provisional Attachment
Order (PAO) under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 attaching properties worth more than Rs. 1 crores in connection with the case of Illegal Online Betting Satta Matka.
The said properties belong to one Manoj
Malviya, who was actively involved in running online betting operations in connivance with Lokesh Verma and Nikhil Halabhavi alias Ajay Ratan Rajput.
ED initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by Madhya Pradesh
Police in relation to illegal online betting case.
ED investigation revealed that illegal online betting apps such as Dhangames and other satta matka Apps were being operated in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and other parts of the country to lure unsuspecting masses. The App allowed users to register via mobile number and transfer money to Dhangames wallet via UPI and indulge into betting.
The officials said that illegal money generated through these Satta Matka apps were laundered through web of bogus bank accounts opened by Lokesh Verma and Manoj Malviya in the names of dummy persons by misusing their KYC documents to run the betting operations.
The proceeds of crime generated from betting operations in the benami bank accounts were laundered and utilized for buying properties, officials further added.
Earlier in this case, one PAO to the tune of Rs. 8.89 Crore was issued and Rs. 46
lakh were also seized during the course of searches conducted under PMLA, 2002.
