Published on 19/12/2025 11:31 PM
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 7.93 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with an illegal online betting case linked to offshore platform 1xBet.
According to the ED, the attached properties belong to cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, actors Urvashi Rautela, Sonu Sood, Mimi Chakraborty, Ankush Hazra and Neha Sharma.
The probe was launched after several FIRs were filed by the police in different states against the illegal offshore betting platform 1xBet and its operators. During the investigation, it was found that 1xBet and its parent brands — 1xBat and 1xBat Sporting Lines — were involved in facilitating the online betting and gambling activities of the Indians which were illegal.
The ED said the celebrities had knowingly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities and promoted the surrogate brands of 1xBet.
Payments for these promotional activities were allegedly made through layered transactions routed via foreign entities to conceal the source of proceeds of crime generated from illegal betting operations. Additionally, the agency ascertained that 1xBet was conducting its business in India without any legal sanction and was luring Indian youngsters by means of social networking sites, digital films, and print promos.
Earlier, on October 6, 2025, the ED had attached properties worth Rs 11.14 crore belonging to cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in the same case. The probe agency, which had already warned about the illegal betting platforms, stated that such activities besides causing heavy economic loss are also frequently used for money laundering and other illegal activities. It has further asked the public to avoid these platforms and report any transactions or advertisements that seem suspicious.
The ED warned not only the celebrities and social media influencers but also the general public that explicitly or indirectly advertising illegal betting or gambling platforms would lead to their prosecution and would be served with legal notices.