New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday in connection with a money laundering case linked to the online betting platform 1xBet. Uthappa, 39, reached the agency’s office around 11 am, where he was questioned and his statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED has already questioned former cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, former TMC MP and actor Mimi Chakraborty, and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra as part of the investigation. Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh and actor Sonu Sood are scheduled to appear on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The probe focuses on allegations that 1xBet duped numerous investors of crores of rupees while evading substantial direct and indirect taxes. The Curacao-registered company claims to be a globally recognised bookmaker with 18 years in the industry, offering bets on thousands of sporting events via its website and app in 70 languages.
Sources indicate that the ED is seeking details from celebrities about how they were approached by 1xBet for endorsements, the nodal contacts in India, the mode and place of payments, and whether they were aware that online betting is illegal in India. The agency is also reviewing contracts, emails, and other documentation, as well as the end use of funds to determine if any money qualifies as “proceeds of crime” under the PMLA. Before the government’s recent ban on real-money online gaming, market analysis estimated around 22 crore Indian users, with 11 crore regular users, and a market value exceeding USD 100 billion growing at 30% annually. The government informed Parliament that 1,524 orders were issued from 2022 to June 2025 to block online betting and gambling platforms.
