The Enforcement Directorate's Kolkata Zonal Office has seized two luxury vehicles and frozen assets during coordinated raids across five cities as part of an ongoing investigation into an illegal online betting and money laundering operation linked to social media influencer and YouTuber Anurag Dwivedi.
In a press release, the directorate stated that the raids that were conducted on December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, covered nine locations across Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Lucknow and Varanasi.
ED sleuths seized a Land Rover Defender and BMW Z4 registered to Dwivedi, along with numerous incriminating documents and digital devices under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002.
The latest action follows earlier searches on December 17, 2025, when the ED raided 10 premises in Lucknow, Unnao and Delhi connected to the YouTuber. Those raids had resulted in the seizure of four high-end vehicles -- a Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes, Ford Endeavour and Thar -- along with approximately Rs 20 lakh in cash, documents and digital devices.
According to the ED, evidence gathered during the December raids revealed real estate investments in Dubai purchased through hawala channels. The agency also froze movable assets worth approximately Rs 3 crore, including insurance policies, fixed deposits and bank balances under Section 17(1A) of PMLA, 2002.
The investigation stems from an FIR registered by West Bengal Police regarding illegal online betting operations. The probe revealed that accused persons Sonu Kumar Thakur and Vishal Bhardwaj operated an online betting panel from Siliguri using mule bank accounts and digital platforms.
The ED's investigation established that Dwivedi actively promoted illegal betting platforms and received proceeds of crime through hawala channels and mule accounts. These funds were allegedly used to acquire immovable properties in Dubai. The agency noted that Dwivedi has left India and is currently residing in Dubai, having failed to appear before investigators despite multiple summons.
The ED previously arrested three individuals in connection with this case and filed a prosecution complaint before the Special Court (PMLA), Kolkata on August 1, 2025. The agency has frozen or attached movable assets worth approximately Rs. 27 crore in this case to date.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to trace the flow of illicit funds through various channels and jurisdictions.
ED, Kolkata Zonal Office has conducted search operations on 31.12.2025 and 01.01.2026 at 09 locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Lucknow and Varanasi at various premises linked to Social Media Influencer & Youtuber Anurag Dwivedi, and others in connection with an illegal online… pic.twitter.com/hnBpoznDpd— ED (@dir_ed) January 5, 2026
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