ED secures PMLA authority approval to retain seized devices in Magicwin illegal betting and streaming case | Representational Image
Mumbai: In a major victory for financial crime investigations with far reaching implications, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Adjudicating Authoriy has upheld the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) retention of seized digital and electronic devices of suspects and accused for investigations and preservation of crucial evidence required for a comprehensive examination of large-scale illegal cricket betting and copyright infringement case.
The ED had filed an application with the adjudicating authority in the online cricket betting probe linked to “Magicwin” website for retention of the seized digital devices, documents, and the freezing of bank accounts totaling over ₹90.37 lakh.
The ED probe was initiated following an FIR lodged on June 12, 2024, by the Cyber Crime Police Station, Ahmedabad filed by Star India Pvt Ltd., alleging that magicwin games website illegally hosted, streamed and broadcasted ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 cricket matches without authorisation for cricket betting for which Star India Pvt Ltd. had the exclusive broadcasting rights from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The FIR highlighted the allegedly unauthorized streaming of matches such as Canada vs. Ireland on June 7, 2024, and India vs. Pakistan on June 9, 2024, via a linked site, “https://ss47.live/,” which streamed content from OTT Disney + Hotstar resulting in substantial financial losses for the authorized broadcaster.
The ED investigations in Magicwin illegal streaming and betting of cricket matches to led to several associated entities including Intra Intrade Corporation LLP, Deepti Awasthi, Harvinder Singh Suri, Red Cherry Entertainment LLP, Keyurkumar Ashokkumar Sheth, Ashokkumar Sheth, Kalpana Sheth, Sahil Gandhi, Shruti Rampal, and Digimedia Solutions Pvt Ltd.
The probe further reportedly revealed large scale money laundering by Magicwin engaged in illegal betting on live cricket and other games offering payment options via bank transfers, UPI, PhonePe, Paytm and GPay while broadcasting matches without subscription fees to entice individuals into betting.
“Magicwin actively promoted its betting operations through various Bollywood celebrities and social media influencers across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and YouTube, aiming to lure the public with promises of winning large sums,” alleged ED official.
ED initiated its money laundering investigation targeting the owners of the Magicwin website and other implicated parties conducted extensive search and seizure operations on December 10, 13, and 24, 2024, across 23 premises linked to the case.
The premises included locations associated with Smart Dukaan, Flaura Tek Pvt Ltd, Intra Intrade Corporation LLP, Rajnish Madhusudan Dhadheech, Magicwinin.in Digimedia Solutions Pvt Ltd, D.K. Sharma, Deepti Awasthi, Sahil Gandhi, Harvinder Suri, 3rd Rock Multimedia Limited, Red Cherry Entertainment LLP, Keyurkumar Ashokkumar Sheth, Kino Cottage, Shruti Gandhi, and Ravi Kumar.
The searches led to the seizure of various incriminating documents, records and digital devices with eight freezing orders of 12 bank accounts.
The Adjudicating Authority’s order highlights the specific alleged roles of various individuals and entities in the Magicwin betting syndicate naming Intra Intrade Corporation LLP of making payments for organizing the launch party of the Magicwin website at Kino Cottage, Versova.
