The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a significant step in its investigation into the alleged illegal betting platform 1xBet, attaching assets worth ₹11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan. The attachment is part of a money-laundering probe linked to the betting platform's operations.
A provisional attachment order has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This order covers an immovable property owned by Dhawan, valued at ₹4.5 crore, and a mutual fund investment of Raina, worth ₹6.64 crore.
The ED alleges that both Raina and Dhawan "knowingly" entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities to promote 1xBet and its associated platforms. The agency suggests that these promotional activities are linked to entities involved in operating or promoting illegal online betting services accessible in India.
1xBet, the betting platform in question, is registered in Curacao and describes itself as a globally recognized bookmaker with 18 years in the betting industry and 400,000 users. The ED's investigation is part of a broader crackdown on illegal online betting platforms operating in India, scrutinizing them for allegedly running fraudulent schemes and illegally moving large sums of money.
In connection with the case, the ED had previously questioned both Raina and Dhawan. Raina was reportedly questioned for over eight hours regarding his promotional activities with the betting app. The probe extends beyond Raina and Dhawan, with the ED also questioning other prominent personalities, including former cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, actors Sonu Sood and Urvashi Rautela, former Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty, and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra. These individuals were questioned regarding their promotional associations with the betting platform and its surrogates. The ED has also questioned representatives from tech companies Google and Meta.
The agency has been examining financial transactions, endorsement deals, and promotional campaigns to determine the flow of funds from offshore entities to Indian accounts. The ED has also conducted multi-state searches targeting another betting app called Parimatch.
These investigations coincide with the Indian government's introduction of new legislation to ban real-money online gaming. The ED's actions reflect an intensified effort to combat illegal betting operations in the country. The investigation aims to uncover potential violations related to user fraud and tax evasion by these betting platforms, which allegedly involve substantial sums of money.
