ED summons Chikoti Praveen over Thailand gambling case

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently issued fresh summon notices to Chikoti Praveen, Madhav Reddy, and Sampath relating to a probe in the alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in recent Thailand gambling case.

Apart from Praveen, BRS leader and Medak District Cooperative Central Bank Chairman Chitti Devender Reddy were also summoned to question them regarding the alleged casino gambling in Thailand.

According to The Times of India sources, ED officials were posted on the airport waiting for Praveen, Madhav and Devender Reddy after they were deported from Thailand for taking part in an illegal underground gambling event.

The arrival was delayed by a day and the ED decided to summon all four relating to the FEMA violation investigation. Sampath has already clarified in the ED statement that he was not in Thailand while Praveen and Madhav are yet to give their respective statements to ED.

‘Gambling is my passion’ – Casino organizer Praveen

Speaking to the media, Praveen said, “Gambling is my passion. I went to Thailand as a player. I am not the organiser. Thai nationals, Sitranan Kaewlor and Dev, arranged the trip and provided a permission letter claiming to have a licence for poker play. I seized the opportunity to network with international gamblers. So, I went along with my friends. We were not arrested by Thai police, who had only detained us. The court imposed a fine and allowed us to leave the country.”

Chikoti Praveen is a notorious casino organiser who is under ED investigation for running a suspected gambling racket in the neighbouring countries. He is also alleged to invite people from India to gamble in these events.

Most recently, Praveen was under the Thailand police custody for taking part in an illegal gambling event at a hotel. Chikoti was arrested along with 82 other Indian nationals. Along with them, eight people from Myanmar and six from Thailand were also booked.

During the raid the police also seized gambling equipment like playing cards, cash, mobile phones along with diaries with transaction records. As of now, local court in Thailand granted bail to all the gamblers and have fined them for Rs 10,000 per person.

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