(Image source from: Thehindu.com)

Karnataka Congress MLA K C Veerendra, known as 'Puppy', was taken into custody in Sikkim due to involvement in an alleged illegal betting scheme after the Enforcement Directorate conducted a two-day search across the country on Saturday. The inquiry uncovered a significant illegal betting operation, which had connections to overseas casinos and gambling activities in Dubai. The searches occurred in several states, such as Sikkim, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Goa, on August 22 and 23. The investigators focused on five casinos in Goa - Puppy’s Casino Gold, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppy’s Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino, and Big Daddy Casino. The inquiry agency reported that the Congress MLA was running various betting websites like 'King567' and 'Raja567', while his brother K C Thippeswamy managed three companies in Dubai involved in call center services and gaming. The investigators also found several casino membership cards from MGM, Bellagio, Metropolitan, Marina, and Casino Jewel, alongside luxury hotel memberships from Taj, Hyatt, and The Leela, as well as numerous high-value credit and debit cards.

During the searches, officials discovered cash totaling Rs 12 crore, which included Rs 1 crore in foreign money. They also recovered gold jewelry valued at Rs 6 crore and around 10 kg of silver jewelry. Three luxury cars were located, all with the same VIP number: 0003. According to sources from the inquiry agency, evidence suggested a "complex layering" of money and funds, along with indications of efforts to lease a physical casino in Gangtok. The agency also froze 17 bank accounts, two lockers, and confiscated property documents related to Veerendra's brother K C Nagaraj and nephew Pruthvi N Raj. The 50-year-old Congress MLA was presented in front of a magistrate court, which approved a transit remand for him to be brought to a Bengaluru court.