ED Attaches Rs.1.84 Crore Assets in Surat Betting Scam

Surat : The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached movable assets worth ₹1.84 crore in connection with an illegal betting racket involving Harish alias Kamlesh Jariwala and others. As per the report, the attachment, made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, includes assets held by Rajesh Lakhani, proprietor of M/s. Maitri Enterprises and M/s. VC Metals Pvt. Ltd.

Criminal Conspiracy and Dummy Accounts

The investigation was initiated following an FIR lodged by the DCB, Surat, alleging that Kamlesh Jariwala conspired with Rushikesh Adhikar Shinde and Huzefa Kausar Masakarwala. The trio reportedly misused identity documents, forged rent agreements, and fraudulently opened dummy firms and bank accounts. These accounts were used to launder money generated from illegal betting apps, including CBTF247.com and T20EXCHANGE.com.

Key Findings and Previous Actions

Earlier in the investigation, the ED froze balances totaling ₹5.67 crore across 92 bank accounts linked to the accused. A Prosecution Complaint was filed with the PMLA Court in Ahmedabad on October 25, 2024.

The ED uncovered that proceeds of crime (POC) were routed through dummy accounts created in the names of fictitious entities. These funds were systematically layered to obscure their origin from the illegal betting operations.

Involvement of Rajesh Lakhani

During the probe, it was revealed that Rajesh Lakhani received proceeds of crime through one of the dummy accounts. His businesses, M/s. Maitri Enterprises and M/s. VC Metals Pvt. Ltd, are now under scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation.

The ED continues to trace the money trail and identify other assets connected to the racket. Further legal action and attachments are anticipated as the probe deepens.