New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned tech giants Meta and Google as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation against illegal online betting platforms.
Official sources said representatives of the two companies have been asked to appear before the agency in Delhi on July 21 to record their statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The two companies have not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The federal agency is probing several platforms hosting links to illegal betting and gambling, including cases where advertisements were placed for these platforms on internet-based social media outlets and app stores.
The ED is seeking details from Meta and Google to understand how such illegal platforms are able to advertise on their platforms.
Some actors, celebrities and sportspersons are also under the agency’s scanner in these cases and are expected to be summoned soon.
The ED said illegal online betting and gambling platforms were not only looting people of their hard-earned money but also evading taxes worth crores of rupees.
