Bengaluru: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) custody of Chitradurga MLA KC Veerendra Puppy was on Thursday extended by four more days. ED officials will produce the legislator in court again on Sept 8.During the hearing at the special court for people’s representatives, counsel representing the MLA objected to the ED request to extend his custody, stating the agency had already taken him into custody twice and questioned him.However, the investigators informed the court that Veerendra wasn’t cooperating with the probe, and that they need to unlock nine more websites related to online betting. Additionally, they said they need to question a few more accused in the case, including Veerendra’s nephew, Appu alias Pruthvi N Raj. Based on Veerendra’s request, the court directed the ED to provide him with basic needs and rest and not to question him after late night. ED has registered a case against Veerendra and others related to cheating the public via illegal online betting. Searches were conducted at multiple locations belonging to him and others in Bengaluru and Challakere on Sept 2. Six high-end vehicles were seized, and around Rs 55 crore was frozen, including Rs 40.7 crore in Veerendra’s nine bank accounts and a demat account. As much as Rs 14.5 crore was recovered from 262 mule accounts from one of the accused gateways through which money collected by multiple gaming websites operated by Veerendra and his associates was routed.It was also found that Veerendra’s brother, KC Thippeswamy, operates three business entities from Dubai, all related to the call centre services and gaming business of Veerendra.
