ED attaches Probo’s ₹117-crore assets for allowing online gambling
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a significant step in its ongoing crackdown on online gambling platforms, attaching assets worth ₹117.41 crore belonging to Probo Media Technologies. The attachment is part of the ED’s money laundering probe into Probo’s activities, which allegedly involved facilitating online gambling under the guise of online gaming. This move comes after the ED’s Gurugram Zonal Office found that Probo had been cheating its customers by allowing them to engage in online gambling, contrary to the company’s claims of providing a legitimate online gaming platform.
The ED’s investigation into Probo’s activities began after the company was found to be operating an online gaming platform that allowed users to bet on various games, including those of chance. While Probo claimed that its platform was designed for online gaming, the ED discovered that the company was actually facilitating online gambling, which is prohibited under Indian law. The ED’s probe revealed that Probo had been using its platform to cheat customers, taking advantage of their trust and exploiting their desire to win money through online gaming.
Probo’s activities came under scrutiny after the government introduced a new law regulating online gaming in the country. The law, aimed at curbing the spread of online gambling, requires online gaming platforms to adhere to strict guidelines and regulations. Probo, however, chose to shut down its platform in August, rather than comply with the new regulations. The ED’s investigation into Probo’s activities suggests that the company’s decision to shut down its platform was an attempt to avoid detection and prosecution.
The attachment of Probo’s assets is a significant development in the ED’s money laundering probe into the company’s activities. The ED has attached movable and immovable assets worth ₹117.41 crore, including properties, bank accounts, and other assets belonging to Probo and its promoters. The attachment of these assets is intended to prevent Probo from disposing of or transferring its assets, which could potentially be used to launder money or fund further illicit activities.
The ED’s action against Probo is part of a broader crackdown on online gambling platforms operating in India. The government has been taking steps to regulate the online gaming industry, which has grown significantly in recent years. While online gaming can be a legitimate and entertaining activity, the lack of effective regulation has allowed many online gaming platforms to operate as fronts for online gambling, exploiting vulnerable individuals and undermining the integrity of the gaming industry.
The ED’s investigation into Probo’s activities highlights the need for effective regulation and oversight of the online gaming industry. The government must ensure that online gaming platforms operate transparently and fairly, providing customers with a safe and secure environment in which to engage in online gaming. The ED’s action against Probo serves as a warning to other online gaming platforms that may be operating outside the law, and demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting consumers and preventing money laundering and other illicit activities.
In conclusion, the ED’s attachment of Probo’s assets is a significant development in the ongoing crackdown on online gambling platforms operating in India. The ED’s investigation into Probo’s activities has revealed a complex web of deceit and exploitation, highlighting the need for effective regulation and oversight of the online gaming industry. As the government continues to take steps to regulate the online gaming industry, it is essential that online gaming platforms operate transparently and fairly, providing customers with a safe and secure environment in which to engage in online gaming.
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