The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned ex-cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, and Bollywood actor Sonu Sood for questioning related to money laundering case via and online betting site. This comes after investigation involving cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, who were also questioned in relation to the reported money laundering and tax evasion relating to online betting sites, majorly including the app 1xBet.
More Facts about the Summons
Robin Uthappa, who retired from cricket professionally in 2022, has been asked to present himself before the ED on September 22 to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He was associated with the betting app via promotional videos and endorsements. The next day, September 23, Yuvraj Singh is to be questioned about his suspected links with the platform, which is being questioned for illegal operations and avoiding huge tax liabilities. Summon to Sonu Sood’s summons puts him among the key personalities invited for questioning for promoting or endorsing the betting operation.
Previous Questioning of Cricketers
The investigation initially brought Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan under the scanner of the ED. Raina was questioned for hours in August regarding how he was approached by app owners, the kind of money transactions, and tax compliance. Dhawan, questioned for eight hours in early September, is said to have promoted the app as well. Officials took detailed statements from the two players under PMLA, with a focus on their promotional efforts and financial transactions related to these apps.
Wider Investigation and Other Stars
The case involving illegal betting app has also involved quite a few celebrities outside the world of cricket. Apart from Sonu Sood, Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela, Bengali actor Ankush Hazra, and ex-TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty are also among those who have been summoned. Rautela, however, was referred to as the Indian ambassador of 1xBet and is accused of having promoted the app widely. The ED inquiry surrounds allegations that these apps conned investors and users of crores of rupees while avoiding regulatory monitoring as well as taxes.
The Nature of Allegations
The betting app 1xBet, active globally for around 18 years, operates in India despite bans, frequently changing names or domains. The ED suspects that funds routed through the platform were linked to laundering illicit proceeds. Besides money laundering, violations of the Information Technology Act, Foreign Exchange Management Act, and other financial laws are under investigation. The government’s crackdown on real-money online gaming reflects growing concerns about consumer protection and lawful gaming operations.
What Next?
With central figures such as Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, and Sonu Sood now called in, the ED is working on filling gaps in its case by evaluating the level of their engagement and financial transactions. The agency stays on the trail of financial streams to expose the money laundering chain involving these betting apps. This high-profile investigation sends a powerful message regarding enforcement in the the online gaming and betting industry.
Summing up, fresh summons to Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, and Sonu Sood show the action-mode on enforcement against celebrity-endorsed illegal betting websites and apps, after previous questioning of Raina and Dhawan, as the investigation goes forward into money laundering offences associated with this fancy but illegal business.
