The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized high-end luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini Urus and a Mercedes, during raids targeting a popular YouTuber based in Uttar Pradesh. The searches are part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged 'cash-for-views' scam, with proceeds estimated at a staggering ₹2 crore.
Luxury Cars and Documents Seized in Coordinated Raids
According to official sources, the federal probe agency conducted searches at multiple locations connected to the YouTuber on Tuesday. The most visually striking seizures from the premises were a Lamborghini Urus SUV, valued at approximately ₹4 crore, and a Mercedes car. Beyond the luxury automobiles, the ED officials confiscated a range of financial documents and digital records crucial to their investigation.
The case originates from a First Information Report (FIR) previously registered by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The police alleged that the YouTuber and associates were running a scheme where they accepted money to artificially inflate the view counts on specific YouTube videos. This 'cash-for-views' operation is suspected to have generated illegal proceeds worth around ₹2 crore.
Probing the Money Trail and PMLA Charges
Based on the police FIR, the Enforcement Directorate initiated its own investigation under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The core objective of the ED's raids was to trace the money trail and identify how the allegedly illicit funds generated from the scam were being laundered and invested.
The discovery of ultra-expensive assets like the Lamborghini Urus at the YouTuber's location is a significant development. It provides the agency with tangible evidence to potentially link the proceeds of the alleged crime to high-value purchases. The analysis of the seized documents and electronic devices is now expected to reveal further details about the network and the full scale of the financial operation.
Brother Also Under Scanner in the Case
Reports indicate that the ED's scrutiny is not limited to the YouTuber alone. The agency is also investigating the potential involvement of the YouTuber's brother in the money laundering activities. The nature of his alleged role and connections to the seized assets and financial transactions remains a key line of inquiry for the investigators as they piece together the entire scheme.
This case highlights the increasing focus of financial enforcement agencies on new-age digital crimes and the misuse of online platforms for generating and laundering money. The ED's action sends a strong message against the manipulation of digital metrics for illicit financial gain.
The YouTuber, whose identity is being withheld as the investigation is ongoing, has a substantial following on the platform. The ED is expected to continue its analysis and may summon the individual and other suspects for detailed questioning in the coming days to establish the charges under the PMLA.
