The Enforcement Directorate has uncovered an elaborate money-laundering operation connecting the bank account of a Rapido bike driver to an extravagant destination wedding at the Taj Aravalli Resort in Udaipur. The ceremony, held in November 2024 and linked to Gujarat youth political figure Aditya Zula, was allegedly funded with more than ₹1 crore that had been routed through the unsuspecting driver’s account. What first appeared to be a routine financial audit in the 1xBet illegal betting probe has now expanded into a dramatic case of laundering crime proceeds through high-profile luxury events.
Investigators discovered that between August 19, 2024 and April 16, 2025, a staggering ₹331.36 crore flowed into the Rapido rider’s bank account despite him having no personal or professional relationship with the groom or the wedding organisers. The deposits came from multiple unidentified sources and were quickly redistributed to other accounts, pointing to the use of the driver’s bank account as a mule account — a front designed to conceal the true origin and final destination of illicit funds. One of the funding channels was traced directly to illegal betting syndicates operating behind 1xBet.
Officials say the case illustrates how laundering networks are increasingly using the identities of ordinary citizens to finance extravagant celebrations, high-value purchases and luxury events while masking criminal origins. The simplicity and boldness of the scheme have alarmed investigators, especially since the driver apparently handed over access to his account without questioning the sudden flow of money, making him criminally liable regardless of intent.
The ED has warned that cases like this are becoming more frequent as crime networks exploit vulnerable individuals willing to lend their banking identity in return for small sums. The agency has urged people not to share bank account credentials, UPI access, debit or credit cards, or identity documents for SIM issuance, stressing that those who enable financial fraud — knowingly or unknowingly — face serious legal consequences. The advisory also recommends checking active SIM cards linked to one’s Aadhaar through the government portal TAFCOP and reporting any unauthorised numbers.
As the investigation continues, the wedding that once reflected opulence and status has now exposed a deeper criminal ecosystem where illegal betting, political names, luxury lifestyle and financial mule networks intersect. The ED is still piecing together where the remaining hundreds of crores were ultimately channelled, signalling that the case may widen further and trigger more high-profile revelations in the weeks ahead.
