In a significant crackdown on the promotion of illegal online betting, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized movable and immovable assets belonging to a host of high-profile celebrities, including cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, and actor Sonu Sood. The total value of the attached properties stands at Rs 7.93 crore.
Celebrities and Assets Under the Scanner
The action, confirmed by an official statement, is part of an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the illicit offshore betting platform 1xBet. The list of individuals facing action extends beyond the initial names, encompassing actresses Urvashi Rautela, Mimi Chakraborty, and Neha Sharma, as well as actor Ankush Hazra.
This recent move follows a similar attachment of assets worth Rs 11.14 crore from cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina on October 6. The ED carried out the latest attachment under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The 1xBet Investigation and Celebrity Endorsements
The agency initiated its probe based on multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by various state police forces against the operators of 1xBet. Investigations uncovered that 1xBet and its surrogate brands, 1xBat and 1xbat Sporting lines, were actively promoting and facilitating illegal online betting and gambling across India.
The ED's statement revealed a critical finding: the implicated celebrities knowingly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities to promote 1xBet through these surrogate brands. Payments for these endorsements were allegedly routed through foreign intermediaries in a layered manner to conceal the illegal source of the funds, which were proceeds of crime from betting activities.
Furthermore, the investigation confirmed that 1xBet operated in India without any authorisation, using surrogate branding and aggressive advertisements on social media, online videos, and print media to target Indian users.
ED's Stern Warning and Public Advisory
The Enforcement Directorate issued a strong warning, highlighting the severe economic damage caused by such illegal betting platforms, which are often conduits for money laundering and other criminal activities. The agency advised the public to stay away from these platforms and report any suspicious transactions or advertisements to law enforcement.
In a direct message to influencers, the ED cautioned that endorsing or promoting illegal betting or gambling platforms, including through surrogate promotions, is a punishable offence under the law. The agency emphasized that legal action will be taken against anyone involved in such activities, regardless of their public stature.
The case underscores the ongoing efforts by Indian financial investigation agencies to clamp down on the complex networks of illegal online gambling and the associated flow of illicit funds, even when masked by celebrity endorsements.
