By: The Trek News Desk
In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday announced the attachment of assets worth ₹11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan. The action comes as part of a widening money-laundering investigation linked to the illegal online betting platform 1xBet.
According to ED officials, the attached assets include mutual fund investments worth ₹6.64 crore held in Raina’s name and an immovable property valued at ₹4.5 crore belonging to Dhawan.
Foreign Endorsements Under the Scanner
The probe revealed that both cricketers allegedly signed endorsement deals with foreign entities that were promoting 1xBet and its surrogate brand 1xBat. Payments for these promotions were reportedly routed through overseas intermediaries to conceal their illegal origins.
Officials said the money was moved through layered transactions, complex financial structures designed to obscure the true source of funds and make illicit proceeds appear legitimate.
1xBet Facing Multiple FIRs Across States
The investigation, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from several FIRs filed in different Indian states against 1xBet operators. Authorities found that the company and its associated brands were running unauthorised betting and gambling operations in India, aggressively advertising on social media, online platforms, and print media to attract Indian users.
Bollywood and Political Links Emerge
The case has also drawn in prominent personalities from Bollywood and politics. The ED has reportedly summoned Sonu Sood, Urvashi Rautela, former TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty, and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra for questioning regarding their association with the platform or its promotional activities.
Thousands of Fake Accounts Used to Move Funds
The ED spokesperson stated that over 6,000 “mule accounts” were used by 1xBet to collect money from Indian users. These funds were allegedly funnelled through multiple payment gateways to disguise their origin. Investigators discovered that several merchants associated with these gateways lacked proper KYC verification, raising red flags about fraudulent activities.
So far, the agency has frozen ₹4 crore across more than 60 bank accounts, and preliminary findings suggest that over ₹1,000 crore may have been laundered through this vast network.
Source: News Agencies
