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ED Uncovers ‘Mule’ Account of Rapido Bike Driver in 1xBet Probe
New Delhi: In a startling revelation that underscores the deep reach of online betting-linked money laundering, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a “mule” bank account belonging to a Rapido bike-taxi driver, in which over ₹331 crore was deposited within just eight months—even as the man struggled to earn enough for two square meals a day.
Officials said the shocking discovery was made during the ongoing probe into the 1xBet online betting-linked money-laundering racket. The account holder, a daily-wage bike driver associated with the popular cab aggregation platform Rapido, was traced after investigators flagged suspicious high-value transactions running into hundreds of crores.
A formal response from Rapido on the development is awaited.
From Multi-Crore Account to Two-Room Shanty
According to officials, the driver’s bank account received deposits totalling ₹331.36 crore between August and March. Alarmed by the scale and speed of transactions, the federal agency conducted a raid at the address mentioned in the bank’s Know Your Customer (KYC) records.
What the ED found stunned even seasoned investigators. The driver was living in a modest two-room shanty in a congested Delhi locality, spending most of his day ferrying passengers on his bike to earn a livelihood. He had no assets, no business activity, and no visible lifestyle indicators that could remotely explain the flow of such massive funds through his account.
Officials said it quickly became evident that this was a classic case of a “mule” account—a banking channel used to launder illegal money, where the registered account holder is merely a front.
₹1 Crore Spent on ‘Grand’ Udaipur Wedding
What further drew the ED’s attention was the discovery that over ₹1 crore from the same account was used to finance a lavish destination wedding at a luxury hotel in Udaipur, Rajasthan. According to sources, the wedding is allegedly linked to a young politician from Gujarat, who may soon be summoned for questioning as the money trail deepens.
During interrogation, the driver reportedly told investigators that he had no knowledge of the transactions, and could neither identify the bride, the groom nor their families, whose lavish wedding expenses were routed through his bank account.
How the ‘Mule’ Network Operated
The ED suspects that the driver’s account was used as a temporary transit point to funnel illicit money generated from illegal betting operations. A mule account, officials explained, is typically created using fake or rented KYC documents, where unsuspecting or financially vulnerable individuals are lured into lending their accounts in exchange for small commissions.
Investigators found that:
- The account received large deposits from multiple unidentified sources
- Funds were swiftly re-routed to several other suspicious accounts
- At least one major source of incoming funds is directly linked to illegal betting operations
The agency is now verifying additional sources and final destinations of the funds that passed through this account.
Part of a Larger Celebrity and Sports Betting Probe
This development is part of the wider 1xBet investigation that has already sent shockwaves through the sports and entertainment world. Recently, the ED attached assets worth several crores belonging to former cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, and questioned multiple other cricketers and celebrities over their alleged promotional links with the betting platform.
Officials say the discovery of a multi-crore laundering channel hidden behind the identity of a poor bike driver highlights how deeply entrenched and deceptive the illegal betting economy has become.
