Cricketers Robin Uthappa and Yuvraj Singh and actor Sonu Sood are now on a growing list of celebrities to be probed by federal officials over the endorsement of illegal betting apps and, in Mr Uthappa’s case, the alleged violation of money-laundering laws. All three have been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate next week; Mr Uthappa on Monday, Mr Singh on Tuesday, and Mr Sood on Wednesday.
They join two other ex- cricketers, Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, as well as actor Urvashi Rautela and Trinamool MP Mimi Chakraborty, in being questioned by the ED as it investigates money-laundering and tax evasion by the 1xBet app, which advertised frequently during live screening of cricket matches.
In fact, the ED is investigating multiple betting platforms and the role of celebrities in promoting, consciously or otherwise, schemes the government said have defrauded users and investors of crores.
Ms Rautela, whom reports have called 1xBet’s ‘India ambassador’, is schedueld to appear today, i.e., Tuesday, as is Bengali actor Ankush Hazra. On Monday the agency recorded Ms Chakraborty’s statement.
Last week Mr Dhawan was questioned for over eight hours at the ED’s Delhi office and left only after his statement was recorded under the stringent Preventoin of Money Laundering Act, or PMLA.
In early-August Mr Raina was also questioned. The ED asked the former cricketer about his role in the promotion of 1xBet and the details of monetary transactions, including any fees he was paid or charged.
And in June another former cricketer, Harbhajan Singh was also questioned.
Sources said a common thread in questions to celebrities is if they knew, or had been made aware, that betting apps like 1xBet – frequently re-labelled to avoid being shut down – are illegal under Indian law.
The argument is that platforms like 1xBet and its avatars – 1xBat, for example – claim to host skill-based games, but used rigged algorithms that make them a gambling enterprise under existing Indian laws.