After former cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, ex-India star Robin Uthappa appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to an online betting app.
Uthappa (39) reached the agency's office in New Delhi around 11am. The ED, reportedly, questioned him and recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The case is linked to a platform named 1xBet.
What is the 1xBet online betting case?
1xBet is, reportedly, a global bookmaker with 18 years in the betting industry, and its customers can place bets on sporting events, with the company's website and app.
ED is probing tax evasion and duping charges against betting platforms, which includes the 1xBet betting app.
The agency is questioning celebrities to understand how the betting company approached them for endorsements, and also to find out their point of contact in India for the deals. Investigators are looking into how celebrities received payments, too – whether the money was paid in cash, through illegal hawala transfers, or via regular bank accounts. The agency is also checking if these payments happened in India or abroad.
The key question posed to the cricketers and actors is that whether they knew that online betting and gaming is illegal in India. The agency has requested copies of all contracts, and are checking if relevant emails were sent and documents signed between the celebrities and 1xBet.
The ED is also examining what the celebrities did with the money they got, and whether any of these funds are "proceeds of crime" under the PMLA, that is, whether the money came from illegal activities.
The Union government recently banned real money online gaming in India by bringing a legislation.
The online betting app market in India was estimated to be worth over $100 billion.
1xBet online betting case: Who have been questioned so far, and who have been summoned by the ED?
ED has probed ex-India star cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan. Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh will appear before the ED in the same case, on September 23.
Former TMC MP and actress Mimi Chakraborty and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra, too, have been questioned over the past few weeks as part of the probe. While Bollywood actor Sonu Sood has been summoned on September 24, actress Urvashi Rautela, the India brand ambassador of 1xBet, is yet to appear before the ED despite summons.
Other celebrities, including sportspersons, actors, and social media influencers, are expected to be questioned by the ED soon.
