In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday arrested Karnataka Congress MLA KC Veerendra Puppy in connection with an alleged illegal online and offline betting racket. The arrest was carried out under provisions of the anti-money laundering law, following investigations that pointed to Veerendra’s involvement in financial transactions linked to the betting network. ED officials confirmed that the MLA was taken into custody while he was in Sikkim.
According to sources, Veerendra, along with his close associates, had travelled to Gangtok via Bagdogra under the pretext of a business visit to explore leasing opportunities for a land-based casino. The ED believes that this move was tied to the ongoing betting operations, and further inquiries are underway to identify the full extent of his role and connections within the alleged racket. The arrest marks a significant step in the agency’s crackdown on illegal betting, which has seen an increasing shift towards both online and offline platforms across the country.
After his arrest, Veerendra was produced before a Judicial Magistrate in Gangtok, where the ED obtained a transit remand. He will now be brought before the jurisdictional court in Bangalore for further proceedings. The case has triggered political ripples in Karnataka, as opposition parties are likely to use the development to target the ruling Congress. The ED has stated that investigations will continue, with a focus on tracing money trails and unearthing any larger network linked to the case.
