ED files PMLA complaint against Jaa Lifestyle over alleged ad-viewing earning scheme
The ED has filed a prosecution complaint against Jaa Lifestyle India and its directors, alleging the company collected Rs 4.29 crore from the public via a paid ad-viewing membership scheme.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint against three accused, including Jaa Lifestyle India Pvt. Ltd. and its directors, before the Special Court (PMLA) in Bengaluru. The ED alleges the company collected about Rs 4.29 crore from the public through a paid membership scheme that promised earnings from watching advertisements. The complaint was filed on 7 October 2026.
What Happened
The ED's money-laundering case is based on an FIR registered by the Magadi Road police station in Bengaluru under the Indian Penal Code against the company's directors.
According to the ED, the company ran a structured membership model to enrol members and collect money from the public. People were approached on WhatsApp and other online channels about its advertisement-viewing programme, and registered free on its website.
Per the ED, members then had to pay Rs 1,109, including GST, into the company's bank account for permanent membership and the right to take part in its earning programme. The ED said the company collected about Rs 4.29 crore this way between 6 December 2020 and 4 June 2021.
The ED has alleged that the company did not actually provide any facility to earn by viewing advertisements, and that the money collected was used for the personal expenses and benefits of its directors.
Earlier in the investigation, on 22 July 2026, the ED issued a provisional attachment order freezing bank balances of Rs 3,70,65,355, about Rs 3.71 crore, held in the company's accounts. A provisional attachment must be confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA.
These are allegations, not findings of guilt; the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, and due process continues.
What It Means
As set out by the ED, the scheme asked people to pay a joining fee in return for promised earnings from viewing advertisements. Bank balances of about Rs 3.71 crore linked to the company are now under attachment, and the special court will decide the case.
If you are approached with a similar scheme that collects money from the public, you can report it on RBI's Sachet portal at https://sachet.rbi.org.in. If you have lost money online, report it at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call the helpline 1930.
This report describes enforcement actions and allegations on the public record, attributed to the officials cited. An order, FIR or chargesheet is not a conviction; parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Sources & Citations
- Enforcement Directorate press release — Enforcement Directorate