‘Profits from cricket betting are proceeds of crime’:Delhi HC rejects 6 petitions linked to international racket; betting not an offence under PMLA

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed six petitions filed in connection with an international cricket betting racket, ruling that the entire network was founded on fraud and criminal activity, and therefore profit generated from it qualifies as illegal income. The petitions were filed by Mukesh Kumar, Umesh Chautalia, Naresh Bansal, Ghanshyam Bhai Patel and others involved in the betting racket. They had argued that the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) temporary attachment orders and notices should be cancelled, claiming that cricket betting is not a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and therefore their assets could not be treated as proceeds of crime. Rejecting the petitions, the High Court said: The court clarified that it did not categorise betting itself as the “poisonous tree,” but noted that the ecosystem built around it was criminal. Also Read| Top five Test playing nations where cricket betting is legal One-member PMLA Authority’s orders also upheld The High Court upheld the validity of ED action, stating that the agency had acted based on solid evidence. It also affirmed that the PMLA Adjudicating Authority is constitutionally valid even when functioning with just one member. Also Read| ₹25 crore online betting racket busted in Jaipur; 8 arrested The bench noted: With this judgment, ED’s attachment of properties and issuance of notices in the case remain in force, reinforcing the agency’s stand on illegal earnings generated through the betting syndicate.