Synopsis: ED’s probe into 1xBet-linked money laundering has uncovered ₹331.36 crore routed through a Delhi Rapido driver’s bank account. The trail connects illegal betting networks, shell entities, mule accounts, and even a luxury destination wedding involving a Gujarat politician.
Links to Illegal Betting and a High-End Destination Wedding
Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigators had been tracking suspicious transactions between August 2024 and April 2025 when a single bank account raised alarm — it had received ₹331.36 crore in eight months.
To their surprise, the account belonged to a Rapido bike-taxi driver living in a small two-room shanty in Delhi.
During questioning, the driver said he had no knowledge of the deposits and denied involvement in handling funds. The mismatch between his modest profile and the massive inflow indicated the use of mule accounts — bank accounts used by laundering networks through stolen, forged, or rented identities.
Investigators discovered that over ₹1 crore from the driver’s account was used to pay for a luxury destination wedding in Udaipur. The event reportedly involved a young Gujarat politician who may soon be summoned for questioning.
Funds came from multiple unidentified sources, many linked to digital wallets and shell entities. ED confirmed that at least one source was tied to illegal betting platforms such as 1xBet.
A Growing Network Beneath India’s Betting Economy
The investigation highlights how India’s illegal betting networks have evolved. As enforcement tightened, these networks shifted toward more scattered, low-profile financial identities.
Recent ED actions in the 1xBet case, including asset attachments linked to former cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, suggest operators are increasingly relying on individuals at the bottom of the economic ladder to move funds.
These mule accounts often belong to people with:
- Low digital literacy
- Minimal financial activity
- Willingness to share KYC details for small payments
In the Rapido driver’s case, ED suspects identity fraud. Either:
- His documents were misused without consent, or
- His bank account was accessed or cloned by a larger laundering syndicate
Both scenarios reveal a highly structured laundering network designed to protect those controlling illegal betting proceeds.
ED Expands Its Probe Into Sources, Recipients, and Political Links
The ED is now reconstructing the entire flow of funds through the driver’s account. Every incoming and outgoing transaction is under scrutiny.
Officials believe the investigation could lead to:
- Further arrests
- Asset attachments
- Financial trail mapping across states
- Political questioning based on fund usage
The probe is part of a larger nationwide crackdown on illegal online betting and wagering — an industry deeply intertwined with celebrities, influencers, and political networks.
What started as a routine investigation into betting transactions has turned into a revealing look at one of India’s most complex money laundering ecosystems — stretching from grand destination weddings to the doorstep of an unsuspecting Delhi bike-taxi driver.
📌 Key Takeaway
The ED’s 1xBet probe has uncovered a vast laundering chain using mule accounts, shell entities, and political links — with ₹331 crore routed through a Delhi driver’s account. The case exposes the deep, evolving network powering India’s illegal betting economy.
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