India, July 26 -- The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) Mumbai office led major searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting a large group involved in online betting, gaming, and investment fraud. Raids took place in Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru. Investigators seized key documents, digital devices, and other evidence, and froze bank accounts connected to the suspects.

The operations were carried out primarily under Section 17 of the PMLA. This provision empowers the Director or any officer not below the rank of Deputy Director, based on information in their possession and after recording reasons to believe in writing, to authorise searches of any building, place or other premises where records or proceeds of ...