ED Expands 1xBet Money Laundering Probe to Celebrities and Cricketers

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has ramped up its investigation into the high-profile 1xBet money laundering case, now extending its scrutiny to well-known figures from the worlds of cricket and cinema. According to sources, the ED is preparing to attach assets worth crores belonging to some celebrities. These properties were allegedly purchased using endorsement payments received from promoting the illegal betting platform 1xBet -- income the agency considers “proceeds of crime.” Prominent cricketers including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Shikhar Dhawan have already faced questioning. From the entertainment industry, actors like Sonu Sood, Mimi Chakraborty, and Ankush Hazra have also appeared before the agency. Actress Urvashi Rautela, who served as a brand ambassador for 1xBet in India, was summoned but did not appear due to being abroad. Recently, the ED issued summons to Robin Uthappa (September 22), Yuvraj Singh (September 23), and Sonu Sood (September 24) for questioning at the agency’s Delhi headquarters. The focus of the interrogation is to determine whether these public figures benefited financially from 1xBet or indirectly promoted the platform in any form. Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan was questioned about certain suspicious financial transactions and promotional content posted on social media. Similarly, Suresh Raina recorded his statement in August concerning various sponsorship deals under scrutiny. What is the 1xBet Case? 1xBet is an international online betting platform that has been operating illegally in India without proper licensing. Authorities allege that the platform was involved in large-scale money laundering, converting black money into legitimate income. The ED is now probing whether celebrities knowingly or unknowingly enabled the platform’s operations through endorsements or brand partnerships. As the investigation deepens, it highlights the growing intersection of entertainment, sports, and unlawful digital enterprises-raising concerns about celebrity accountability and financial due diligence.