NEW DELHI: Officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have seized multiple luxury vehicles belonging to an Uttar Pradesh-based YouTuber as part of a money laundering investigation linked to suspected illegal online betting networks.Officials said a Lamborghini Urus, a Mercedes, a Ford Endeavor and a Mahindra Thar were seized during searches at multiple locations on Wednesday. The raids targeted premises linked to Anurag Dwivedi, an online cricket influencer originally from Unnao district, as well as the homes of his relatives in nearby towns.The federal agency searched nine premises in Lucknow, Unnao, and Nawabganj, recovering documents believed to show investments in Dubai real estate allegedly made using funds routed through hawala networks. Officials said the YouTuber has been living in Dubai and has ignored multiple summons for questioning.The ED’s case stems from an FIR registered by West Bengal Police alleging cheating, forgery and illegal betting operations in Siliguri. Investigators claim two accused men, Sonu Kumar Thakur and Vishal Bhardwaj, ran online betting panels using Telegram channels, suspicious bank accounts and digital platforms.According to ED officials, Dwivedi is suspected of playing an “active role” in promoting these platforms. He allegedly created promotional videos and received illegal payments through hawala operators, mule bank accounts and cash couriers. Authorities say the funds were deposited into the bank accounts of his companies and family members without legitimate commercial justification.On Wednesday, ED and CRPF teams arrived at Dwivedi’s village home in Khajur under Ajgain police station. When officers found the house locked, security personnel remained on guard until Dwivedi’s mother was brought from the village to open it.
Searches continued late into the evening, with officials examining various rooms and seizing documents related to bank transactions, property papers and digital devices.According to news agency PTI, investigators are also checking whether the alleged illegal earnings – running into crores – came partly through fantasy cricket platforms, including Dream11, and whether these were linked to unauthorized betting networks.Dwivedi, who has been making cricket-related videos for about seven years, has amassed a substantial social media following. He drew attention last month after videos surfaced of his wedding to a Lucknow woman aboard a cruise in DubaiCircle officer Hasan Ganj Arvind Chaurasia confirmed the searches at the homes of Dwivedi, his father and uncle, saying CRPF personnel were deployed as a precaution. He declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.
