The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Karnataka Congress MLA K C Veerendra, popularly known as Puppy, in connection with a large-scale illegal betting and money laundering racket. The arrest took place in Sikkim after two days of coordinated raids across Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.
Officials said the operation focused on properties and casinos linked to the legislator. Veerendra is accused of running both offline and online betting networks, using casinos as a front for laundering money.
Findings
According to investigators, the raids led to the recovery of ₹12 crore in cash, including ₹1 crore in foreign currency. The ED also seized about ₹6 crore worth of gold ornaments and around 10 kg of silver.
In addition, three luxury cars were confiscated– each carrying the same VIP registration number, “0003.” Membership cards from top international casinos, including MGM and Bellagio, were also found, along with multiple credit and debit cards.
The agency has frozen 17 bank accounts, seized property documents linked to Veerendra’s relatives, and opened two lockers believed to hold further evidence.
Officials said the evidence points to “complex layering” of money, where illegal betting proceeds were routed through multiple accounts and investments to hide their origin. Documents also suggest attempts to acquire a land-based casino in Gangtok.
ED sources added that Veerendra’s network extended beyond local betting and had ties to overseas casino circles, as reflected in the membership cards and foreign currency found during the searches.
After his arrest, Veerendra was presented before a magistrate in Sikkim. The court granted transit remand, allowing ED officers to bring him to Bengaluru for further questioning and investigation.
This case is being seen as one of the biggest crackdowns on betting-related money laundering in recent years, given the scale of assets seized and the involvement of a sitting legislator.
The arrest of Congress MLA K C Veerendra ‘Puppy’ highlights the growing reach of illegal betting networks in India and their deep financial channels. With crores in cash, gold, and luxury assets already seized, investigators believe the trail could expose an even larger racket. The ED’s next steps in Bengaluru will likely determine how wide this network really runs.