Crackdown on Fairplay: ED Hunt for 2023 Election Betting Scandal

The Enforcement Directorate arrested two individuals linked to Fairplay, a website involved in illegal online betting on 2023 Lok Sabha election results and unauthorized IPL broadcasts. The money laundering probe emerged from a Mumbai Police FIR, revealing significant revenue losses reported by Viacom18 Media. Assets worth Rs 331 crore were seized.

The Enforcement Directorate has taken significant steps in tackling illegal online activities by arresting two key figures from Fairplay, a website accused of betting on the Lok Sabha 2023 election results and broadcasting IPL matches without rights.

Chirag Shah and Chintan Shah believed to manage technology and software for Fairplay, were apprehended in Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The central agency reported illegal broadcasting and various online betting operations, primarily managed from Dubai by Krish Laxmichand Shah.

The investigation, initiated by a complaint from Viacom18 Media Pvt Limited, links Fairplay to a revenue loss exceeding Rs 100 crore. To date, assets valued at Rs 331 crore have been attached as proceeds of crime, demonstrating the scale of the operation.

(With inputs from agencies.)