Actor Urvashi Rautela Questioned by Enforcement Directorate in 1xBet Illegal Betting App Investigation

The Enforcement Directorate believes that various celebrities might have indirectly endorsed or promoted the illegal betting application.

Actress Urvashi Rautela presented herself at the Enforcement Directorate's Delhi headquarters on Tuesday for interrogation regarding the ongoing investigation into the illegal betting platform 1xBet.

The ED is investigating potential money laundering activities and celebrity endorsements connected to the platform, which has come under investigation for violating India's financial and gaming regulations.

As part of their inquiry, the Enforcement Directorate had issued summons to former cricket stars Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, along with Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, for questioning.

Uthappa was summoned for September 22, while Singh was called on September 23, and Sood on September 24. All three were instructed to appear at the ED headquarters in New Delhi.

The agency is examining potential financial connections and promotional activities related to 1xBet, a platform that has been scrutinized by multiple agencies for alleged violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and other legal statutes.

The ED suspects that certain celebrities may have indirectly promoted or endorsed the app, which is prohibited in India, thereby lending it credibility among users. The investigation involves the platform's operations in India, suspected of money laundering, tax evasion, and manipulating its algorithms.

This case has been under investigation for several years, with authorities claiming that the platform operated illegally in India through proxy websites and offshore entities. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had previously registered a case against the app operators for targeting Indian users, after which the ED initiated its money laundering investigation.

This is not the first instance of celebrities being scrutinized in relation to betting and gaming applications. Previously, the ED had questioned actors, cricketers, and influencers regarding their involvement in promoting offshore betting and gambling platforms that are prohibited under Indian law.

The broader investigation targets various celebrities and influencers who may have promoted these platforms, which are suspected of tax evasion and defrauding investors, and has also involved other prominent figures, including actors and cricketers.

Previously, the ED had also questioned former cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina. This investigation is among several probing illegal betting platforms. Last month, the ED conducted searches across multiple states in connection with a similar investigation against another online betting application.