A YouTuber’s rise from a small Uttar Pradesh village to Dubai cruise weddings and supercars has now drawn the attention of India’s financial crime watchdog. Anurag Dwivedi, once known locally for dropping out of school, is under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate over alleged money laundering linked to illegal online betting networks. Dwivedi, currently in Dubai, has denied all charges, insisting his income is legitimate and tax-paid.
ED raids and the allegations
The probe gathered pace after the ED received specific intelligence inputs pointing to illegal online betting operations. Acting under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), agency teams carried out simultaneous searches at 10 locations connected to Dwivedi across Unnao, Lucknow and Delhi.
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Officials said multiple bank accounts linked to Dwivedi and his entities were frozen, with balances totalling around ₹3 crore. During the searches, investigators recovered ₹20 lakh in alleged unaccounted cash from his residence and seized four luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini valued at about ₹4.18 crore. Digital devices and documents linked to suspected hawala transactions and overseas fund transfers were also taken for examination.
Overseas investments under the lens
According to ED sources, preliminary findings suggest that money generated through illegal betting platforms may have been routed abroad and invested in real estate assets in Dubai. The agency has indicated that further forensic analysis of financial records and possible custodial questioning could follow as the investigation progresses.
A disrupted education, a digital turn
Dwivedi’s early life offers a sharp contrast to his later lifestyle. Locals and family members say he studied till Class 8 at City Montessori School in Lucknow but stopped attending school soon after enrolling in Class 9. Attempts to continue education at schools in Unnao also failed, and he eventually dropped out before board exams.
His father, Laxminath Dwivedi, who runs a medical store in Nawabganj, recalls the turning point. “When he was young, he stole a gold chain from his uncle’s house and sold it to buy a mobile phone,” he said. “That phone changed everything.” The device introduced Anurag to online gaming, fantasy sports apps and social media content creation — platforms that would later fuel his rise.
From village fame to visible wealth
Over time, Dwivedi built a strong online following and teams linked to gaming and betting platforms. Money followed quickly. In Khajur village, barely 27 km from Unnao district headquarters, his sprawling mansion stands apart from the 20–25 modest homes around it. Spread over nearly three bighas, the property features high boundary walls, CCTV cameras and a massive iron gate — a symbol of wealth that many villagers say arrived almost overnight.
Some residents alleged intimidation and said they preferred silence after the ED raids. “If we speak, agencies might call us,” a local youth said off camera.
Cars, crores and conflicting claims
Dwivedi maintains that his income comes from registered companies and legal digital platforms. He has claimed that earlier checks during the IPL season found no wrongdoing and that his name was wrongly linked to a Kolkata-based betting case.
He has also openly listed his car purchases — starting with a Maruti Dzire in 2019, followed by a BMW, Ford Endeavour, Mercedes-Benz, Mahindra Thar, BMW Z4, Land Rover Defender and finally a Lamborghini. Financial pressure last year, he said, forced him to sell some vehicles after exiting a sports media firm.
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Both Dwivedi and his father insist he is among the highest income tax payers in Unnao. “Around ₹5 crore in tax has been paid in the last three years,” Laxminath said, a figure Dwivedi claims is even higher.
The Dubai wedding that drew attention
Public curiosity peaked with Dwivedi’s wedding on November 21, 2025, hosted aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2, a luxury cruise hotel docked in Dubai. Around 100 guests were flown in from India, with passports arranged for those who needed them. The five-day celebration — fully sponsored, including stay, food and sightseeing — flooded social media with videos of rare opulence.
Local shopkeepers in Nawabganj still talk about it. “People said entire flights were booked,” recalled a fruit seller near the family’s store. Dwivedi’s father believes the spectacle may have triggered complaints. “Too much display creates resentment,” he said. “I warned him.”
What lies ahead
As the ED tightens its probe, the case has become a talking point far beyond Unnao — raising questions about the blurred lines between influencer income, fantasy gaming, betting platforms and offshore investments. For now, Anurag Dwivedi’s story sits at a crossroads: one version of meteoric digital success, and another of alleged financial wrongdoing. The investigation will decide which one holds.
