ED attaches Rs 442 crore more in RummyCulture money laundering case
The Enforcement Directorate has attached fresh assets worth Rs 442.35 crore in its Gameskraft-RummyCulture money laundering probe. The agency alleges the platforms used undisclosed bots and addictive wagering practices to generate illicit proceeds.
Last UpdatedSep 27, 2026 20:07 IST 
Published byEdited byTanu JainThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth approximately Rs 442.35 crore in the RummyCulture money laundering case, taking the total value of assets attached, frozen and seized in the investigation so far to around Rs 2,843 crore.
The latest attachment includes fixed deposit balances, commercial shops, a villa and several residential properties held in the names of family members, private family trusts and various associated entities of shareholders of Gameskraft Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
ED PROBE INTO RUMMYCULTURE AND OTHER GAMING APPS
The ED launched its money laundering investigation based on multiple FIRs registered by law enforcement agencies in Telangana for alleged cheating offences.
The investigation centres on Gameskraft Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and RummyTime Technologies Pvt. Ltd., which operated online real-money games, particularly rummy games and tournaments, through mobile applications including RummyCulture, RummyPrime, Playship and RummyTime.
According to the investigation, the platforms had around 3 crore users across India. A significant number of these users were from states where online real-money gaming has been banned, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The companies earned substantial revenue by charging platform commissions of between 10 per cent and 15 per cent on the staking or wagering amounts deposited by users, the investigation found.
ED ALLEGES USE OF BOTS AGAINST USERS
The ED investigation has further alleged that the companies assured users that their gaming platforms were transparent and fair and did not involve automated players, or bots.
However, investigators found that bots, described as automated programmes or algorithms, were deployed against users without their knowledge or consent.
According to the ED, the use of these bots resulted in substantial financial losses for users while generating proceeds of crime for the companies.
The investigation also found that the companies used what the ED described as deceptive and addictive user acquisition and retention strategies.
Around Rs 1,035 crore was spent on marketing and promotional campaigns to acquire new users. Bonuses, referral incentives, free tournament entries and promotional rewards were used to encourage users to continue playing and increase their deposits.
The companies also allegedly imposed restrictive withdrawal mechanisms. In certain cases, users were charged a withdrawal levy ranging from 5 per cent to 10 per cent.
Investigators further found that users were encouraged to convert withdrawable balances into non-withdrawable "Game Cash" through "Super Booster" offers.
The ED said dormant users, including those who had stopped playing after suffering heavy financial losses, were also targeted through instant cash credits, promotional offers, push notifications, SMS campaigns and telemarketing calls.
According to the investigation, these practices encouraged repeated wagering and enabled the companies to generate large proceeds of crime through platform commissions.
PROCEEDS ROUTED THROUGH DIVIDENDS, INVESTMENTS
The investigation has also traced the alleged movement of the proceeds of crime through dividends and share buy-backs paid to shareholders.
The ED said the proceeds were subsequently concealed through investments in mutual funds, bonds, convertible notes and equity shares, as well as movable assets and high-value immovable properties.
Some of these properties were held through family trusts and associated entities, which the agency said enabled the proceeds to be projected as untainted properties.
ED SEARCHES AND EARLIER SEIZURES
The ED conducted search and seizure operations under Section 17 of the PMLA at the office premises of Gameskraft Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and the residential premises of its directors and key employees between May 7 and May 14, 2026, and again from June 20 to June 21, 2026.
The searches led to the seizure of several incriminating documents, digital devices and electronic records, which the ED said became crucial evidence during the investigation.
Earlier, during the investigation, movable assets worth approximately Rs 495 crore were frozen under Section 17(1A) of the PMLA.
The agency also seized Rs 11 lakh in cash and gold and diamond jewellery, including approximately 2.30 kg of bullion. In addition, a provisional attachment order was issued earlier, attaching properties worth approximately Rs 1,906 crore.
With the latest attachment of Rs 442.35 crore, the total value of proceeds of crime attached, frozen and seized by the ED in the case so far stands at approximately Rs 2,843 crore.
Munish Pandey is Editor and National Bureau Head with India Today Group. With over a decade's experience in crime and investigative journalism, Munish is known for his factual and investigative reports on white collar crimes, crimes involving politicians and corporate houses, violence, riots, international crimes and conspired killings. He started his career in Mumbai and has covered the underworld, killings, kidnapping, corruption cases, and terrorism. Munish keenly follows the Central Bureau of Investigation, Ministry of Home Affairs, Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, Narcotics Control Bureau, Intelligence Bureau, R&AW, Delhi Police and Mumbai Police. From covering and reporting on the 2013 Mumbai triple blasts, Pune Bomb Blasts, Hyderabad bomb blast, he has covered and reported extensively on 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Malegaon case and Mumbai train attacks. Munish Pandey is among the few journalists who first reported on the growing network of terror outfit ISIS in India and their recruitments in the country. He is the only journalist to have interviewed narcotrafficker Vicky Goswami, who is currently serving time in a US jail, and Mamta Kulkarni while the two were in Kenya. He has also reported, extensively covered and broken exclusive stories on the PNB scam, the CBI vs CBI case, Nirav Modi-Mehul Choksi case, P Chidambaram's arrest and many others.
Munish is a silver medalist in Journalism from the University of Mumbai. He has also undertaken a Defence Correspondent Course of the Ministry of Defence where he spent a month with the Armed Forces at the Indo-China border in the northeast and the naval base at Vizag.
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