India’s financial crime agency has called three famous people for questioning.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) wants to talk to former cricketers Robin Uthappa and Yuvraj Singh, plus popular actor Sonu Sood.
They are being questioned about working with illegal betting apps and possible money crimes.
Key Details of the ED Probe
The ED is using the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to investigate this case. This law helps catch people who launder dirty money.
The main focus is on the 1xBet app, which the government banned in 2023 using internet rules. The ED wants to know how much money these celebrities got for promoting these apps.
| Name | Profession | Date to Appear | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Uthappa | Ex-Cricketer | September 22 | Summoned |
| Yuvraj Singh | Ex-Cricketer | September 23 | Summoned |
| Sonu Sood | Actor | September 24 | Summoned |
They also want to check if this money came from illegal activities. Each person has been given specific dates to appear at the ED office in Delhi.
Broadening Investigation: Who Else Is Involved?
Many other famous people have already been questioned in this same case. Cricket stars Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan have already given their statements.
Actress Urvashi Rautela, who was reportedly the face of 1xBet in India, has also been called.
Political leader and actress Mimi Chakraborty and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra have already spoken to ED officials.
| Name | Type of Involvement | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Suresh Raina | Endorsement | Questioned |
| Shikhar Dhawan | Endorsement | Questioned |
| Urvashi Rautela | Brand Ambassador | Summoned |
| Mimi Chakraborty | Supporting Role | Statement Given |
| Ankush Hazra | Supporting Role | Statement Given |
The agency is checking all contracts and money deals these celebrities made with betting companies.
ED’s Main Allegations and Legal Context
The ED claims that apps like 1xBet scammed many people out of crores of rupees. These platforms also avoided paying proper taxes to the government.
The agency believes celebrities helped these crimes by promoting illegal betting apps, either knowing they were banned or without checking if they were legal.
Two main laws are being used in this case. The PMLA deals with money laundering crimes, while the IT Act Section 69A was used to ban these websites.
| Law/Section | Offense Focus | Main Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| PMLA | Money laundering | Jail, asset freeze |
| IT Act 69A | Violation of the site ban | Site block, prosecution |
The 1xBet platform is huge, it works in many countries, offers betting on thousands of sports events, and has websites in 70 different languages.
This makes it hard for Indian authorities to control. The government has been working hard to stop illegal betting and has made new rules in 2025 to watch the gaming industry more closely.
What’s Next?
The three celebrities will need to give detailed statements about their work with betting apps. The ED will continue checking their financial records and may call more people for questioning.
This case will likely change how celebrities think before promoting online gaming or betting companies.
It sends a strong message that famous people must be careful about which brands they support, especially if those companies might be breaking Indian laws.
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