Bollywood actress Neha Sharma has been summoned and questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a major money laundering investigation linked to the online betting platform 1xBet. The 38-year-old actress, known for films like ‘Crook’ and ‘Bad Newz’, recorded her statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday, officials confirmed.
ED Probes Celebrity Endorsement Links
The federal agency is examining Sharma's association with the controversial betting app through endorsement deals. Officials are investigating the nature of her role in promoting the platform and, crucially, how the payments for these promotional activities were structured and routed.
The ED alleges that 1xBet, registered in Curacao, operated illegally in India. The platform is accused of using surrogate branding and aggressive advertisements across social media, online videos, and print media to target Indian users.
Layered Transactions to Conceal Funds
A key allegation from the investigation agency centers on the financial trail. The ED claims that payments for celebrity endorsements were structured through layered transactions. This complex method allegedly involved foreign intermediaries to disguise the illegal source of the funds, a classic hallmark of money laundering operations.
This move against Neha Sharma is the latest development in an ongoing, wide-ranging probe into 1xBet's Indian operations. The ED's objective is to unravel the entire network and financial channels used by the platform.
A Growing List of Celebrity Interrogations
Neha Sharma is far from the first high-profile name to be drawn into this investigation. The ED has already interrogated several other celebrities in connection with the same case.
The list includes prominent former cricketers:
- Shikhar Dhawan
- Suresh Raina (whose assets worth Rs 11.14 crore were attached by the ED)
- Yuvraj Singh
- Robin Uthappa
On the acting front, the agency has also questioned:
- Sonu Sood
- Urvashi Rautela, who served as 1xBet's official Indian brand ambassador
- Bengali actor Ankush Hazra
The investigation is still ongoing, and officials are piecing together evidence from all these statements to build a comprehensive picture of the platform's promotional strategies and financial malfeasance. No final conclusions have been reached, and all allegations are part of the ongoing inquiry process.
