NEW DELHI: A probe into illegal betting-linked money laundering has led the
Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a bike-taxi driver in Delhi, whose bank account saw unexplained deposits of Rs 331.36 crore over eight months.
Officials said the agency stumbled upon the Rapido driver while tracking transactions connected to the 1xBet betting network. The deposits — made between August 19, 2024, and April 16, 2025 — triggered suspicion and prompted ED to raid the address tied to the account, according to news agency PTI.
Also read:
'Actions personal’: Rapido denies role in Rs 331-crore deposits case; Rs 1 crore 'spent' on politician’s Udaipur weddingWhat they found was far from the profile of someone moving multi-crore sums. The driver lived in a two-room shanty in a modest locality and spent most of his day on the roads, earning just enough to run his household. During questioning, he claimed he had no knowledge of the deposits or the beneficiaries.
The agency suspects the account was used as a “mule” — a bank account operated by money-laundering networks using fake or rented KYC details to channel illegal funds.
What caught investigators’ attention further was that over Rs 1 crore from the same account was used to settle bills for a luxury destination wedding in Udaipur. The event is linked to a young Gujarat politician, who may soon be summoned for questioning, officials said.
ED has found that the driver’s account received money from multiple unidentified sources and the funds were swiftly transferred to other suspicious accounts. One of the fund sources has been traced to illegal betting.
The agency is now verifying the entire chain of sources and recipients.
ED has recently attached assets worth crores belonging to former cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in the 1xBet case and has questioned several celebrities as part of its ongoing crackdown.
Rapido denies involvementRapido said that it is providing the required information to the Enforcement Directorate.
"The individual mentioned is one of the two crore registered captains associated with us for bike taxi services. As with many workers in the gig economy, he may be associated with multiple platforms. Rapido has no role or involvement in the matter under investigation. The alleged actions are personal to the individual," a Rapido spokesperson said.
Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here
The TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicat...
Read MoreThe TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicated to bringing you the pulse of cities from across the nation, all day and all night. Our mission is to curate, report, and deliver city news that matters to readers of The Times of India. With a keen focus on urban life, governance, culture, and local issues, we provide a comprehensive view of the ever-evolving cityscapes. Our team works tirelessly to keep readers informed about the latest developments, ensuring that they are connected to the heartbeat of cities across India, right when it happens. The TOI City Desk is a trusted source for staying in touch with the local stories that shape your world.
Read LessExpand