New Delhi / Bengaluru – August 27, 2025. Indian enforcement authorities are deepening their probe into alleged money-laundering via offshore casinos, including those in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Georgia, in connection with Karnataka Congress MLA K C Veerendra, commonly known as “Puppy.” The politician was brought into ED (Enforcement Directorate) custody and is being held until August 28 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Investigators have named five Goa-based casinos—Puppy’s Casino Gold, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppy’s Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino, and Big Daddy Casino—as well as several online betting platforms in connection with the MLA, who is suspected of using both physical and offshore casino operations to launder proceeds from cyber fraud and illegal betting.
Additional findings uncovered profit-sharing arrangements involving international casino operators, indicating Veerendra may have channeled illicit funds through these venues. Authorities also raided numerous shell companies linked to him and are probing his attempted purchase of a casino from "lottery king" Santiago Martin—himself already under investigation for money laundering. This investigation signals a broader strategy by Indian authorities to trace cross-border financial links in the gambling industry. It underscores how physical casinos and offshore structures are being increasingly scrutinized as conduits for illegal financial activity.
