The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is currently investigating entities involved in the illegal streaming of cricket matches and online betting through mobile applications like Fairplay. These entities are suspected of using fraudulent means to distribute and hide the proceeds of their criminal activities.
According to sources, the ED is looking into the process of “layering,” where illicit funds are moved through multiple transactions to conceal their origins. Fairplay, in particular, is said to have collected money through fake bank accounts and funneled it through various corporate accounts before sending it to pharmaceutical companies engaged in fraudulent practices. The money was then transferred to overseas shell companies in locations like Hong Kong, China, and Dubai.
The Fairplay app is reportedly linked to the Mahadev Online Book (MOB) platform, which has been under ED investigation since 2022 for illegal online betting. The current probe against Fairplay and others is based on an FIR filed by Mumbai’s Nodal Cyber Police, alleging a revenue loss of over ₹100 crore due to their activities.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Fairplay had forged agreements with foreign entities to promote their app with the help of Indian celebrities. However, these celebrities’ agencies failed to conduct proper due diligence before entering into these agreements. The ED conducted searches in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Haryana, seizing assets worth millions of rupees in connection with the case.
The agency is now working to trace the ultimate beneficiaries of these illegal operations and ensure that those involved in spreading and disguising the proceeds of crime are held accountable for their actions. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as the case progresses.
