ED arrests director of WinZO gaming app in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested the directors of WinZO Games app, Saumya Singh Rathore and Paavan Nanda, from Bengaluru for alleged money laundering. The central agency also seized Rs 43 crore from Paavan Nanda and has secured 10 days’ custody of the arrested accused.

The ED had conducted searches at four locations in Delhi and Gurugram between November 18 and 22, 2025, and froze assets worth Rs 505 crore, including bank balances, bonds, fixed deposits, and mutual funds.

The ED alleges that WinZO Games Pvt Ltd was involved in criminal activities, including cheating, blocking accounts, impersonation, and misuse of PAN cards. The company is accused of manipulating algorithms to ensure customers lose money, while claiming to be playing against real people.

The ED also claims that WinZO Games operated real money games in countries like Brazil, the US, and Germany from India, despite a ban on such activities.

The ED is also investigating celebrities who promoted the WinZO app, including Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, and Prakash Raj, among others. These celebrities are suspected of endorsing illegal betting platforms, violating the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).