Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Kolkata Zonal Office has conducted search
operations at various premises spread across West Bengal, Delhi, Bihar, UP and Assam
linked toa racket operating Mule Accounts and illegal betting & gambling under the provisions
of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. During the search operations, various
incriminating documents including digital devices have been found &seized. Further, 766
mule bank accounts and 17 Debit / Credit Cards linked to the activities connected with
Proceeds of Crime (POC) have also been frozen. Further, two persons namely Vishal
Bhardwaj alias Badal Bhardwaj and Sonu Kr. Thakur have been arrested under Section 19 of
the PMLA, 2002. The arrested persons were produced before the Hon’ble Special Court
(PMLA), Calcutta, which granted ED custody for 10 days.
The case pertains to an FIR registered under various sections of Indian Penal Code,
1860 and West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competitions Act, 1957 by Siliguri Police
Commissionerate, West Bengal. Vishal Bharadwaj @ Badal Bhardwaj and Sonu Kr. Thakur
werelisted as accused and shown as absconders in the chargesheet filed by the Police. Both
were arrested during the search by ED.
The modus operandi includes opening of mule bank accounts (saving, current and
corporate accounts) by recruiting people to act as money mules in exchange of money paid
either as a one-time basis or on a recurring monthly basis, depending on the nature and
utility of the account. These bank accounts are specifically intended for the collection and
subsequent layering of proceeds generated through illegal online betting and gambling
activities being run through websites and telegram channels. These mule account holders
have no control over or access to the accounts. The scamsters induced people to contact
through WhatsApp numbers for betting and gambling in different games like IPL, ISL, T20
World Cup, Online Rummy, Online Casino, etc.
Further investigation is in progress
