Bengaluru, September 3, 2025: The Karnataka High Court is set to hear a petition filed by R.D. Chaithra, wife of Chitradurga MLA K.C. Veerendra, popularly known as 'Puppy,' seeking to declare his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as unlawful. Veerendra, a Congress legislator, was arrested on August 23, 2025, in Gangtok, Sikkim, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with an alleged illegal online and offline betting racket.YUISI Sun Hat for Men Women, Breathable Summer Hat for Travel, Hiking, Gardening, Sun Hats for Men & Round Sun Cap for Hiking, Hats for Women Indoor Outdoor Activities
The ED conducted extensive raids on August 22 and 23, 2025, across 31 locations in Karnataka (Chitradurga, Bengaluru, Hubli), Sikkim (Gangtok), Goa, Maharashtra (Mumbai), and Rajasthan (Jodhpur). The raids targeted properties linked to Veerendra, his brothers K.C. Thippeswamy and K.C. Nagaraj, his nephew Pruthvi N. Raj, and associates, including five casinos in Goa—Puppy’s Casino Gold, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppy’s Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino, and Big Daddy Casino. The agency seized ₹12 crore in cash (including ₹1 crore in foreign currency), gold jewellery worth ₹6 crore, 10 kg of silver, four luxury vehicles, and froze 17 bank accounts and two bank lockers. Incriminating documents revealing a complex web of financial transactions were also recovered.
The ED alleges that Veerendra operated illegal betting websites such as King567, Raja567, Puppy’s003, and Rathna Gaming, with his brother K.C. Thippeswamy managing related operations through three Dubai-based entities: Diamond Softech, TRS Technologies, and Prime9Technologies. These firms are suspected of providing call center services for the betting operations. The agency further claims that Veerendra was in Gangtok to explore leasing land for a casino, with potential links to gambling operations in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Georgia under scrutiny.Also Read: MLA Rajanna's 'Circus' for High Command Meeting Twice: Rejected Both Times
Veerendra was produced before a magistrate in Gangtok on August 23, 2025, and a transit remand was obtained to present him before a special PMLA court in Bengaluru, which remanded him to ED custody until August 28, 2025. The investigation also involves Anil Gowda H, an advocate and associate of Veerendra, whose plea challenging an ED summons was recently heard by the Karnataka High Court. The court reserved its verdict on Gowda’s plea and issued an interim order preventing coercive action against him until the verdict is delivered.