New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the online betting platform 1xBet, officials said.
Singh, 43, reached the ED office in central Delhi around noon, where his statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sources said the agency questioned him about his association with the betting app and potential financial transactions.
Alongside Singh, influencer Anveshi Jain was also summoned and questioned on the same day. The probe has already seen the appearance of several prominent names, including cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, and Robin Uthappa, as well as former TMC MP and actor Mimi Chakraborty and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra. Actor Sonu Sood has been asked to appear before the ED on Wednesday.
The agency’s wider investigation into 1xBet forms part of a crackdown on betting platforms accused of duping users out of crores of rupees and evading large sums in taxes. The company, registered in Curacao, claims to be a global bookmaker with 18 years of experience, offering betting services in 70 languages across its website and app.
According to officials, the ED is probing how celebrities were approached by the company for endorsements, the mode of payments they received, and whether those payments were routed through legal banking channels or via hawala. The agency is also verifying whether any money received can be treated as “proceeds of crime” under PMLA.
Celebrities have been asked to submit contracts, emails, and documentation related to 1xBet deals. Investigators are also questioning whether they were aware that online betting and gaming are illegal in India.
The probe comes soon after the Union government banned real money online gaming through new legislation. Data shared in Parliament revealed that between 2022 and June 2025, authorities issued 1,524 orders to block online betting and gambling platforms.
Market estimates before the ban suggested that India had nearly 22 crore users of online betting apps, with half being regular users. The industry was valued at over USD 100 billion, growing at nearly 30% annually, according to analysts.
