THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Sept 16: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued notices to Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, former Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, asking them to appear for questioning at the ED headquarters in Delhi in a money laundering case linked to the online betting app 1xBet.
Uthappa has been asked to appear on September 22, Yuvraj Singh on September 23, and Sonu Sood on September 24.
ED Summoned Several Celebrities Earlier
Several celebrities from cricket, Bollywood, and the South Indian film industry have already been summoned in this case.
Earlier interrogations included cricketers Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Shikhar Dhawan, as well as actors like Urvashi Rautela, Prakash Raj, Rana Daggubati, and Vijay Deverakonda. These individuals are accused of directly or indirectly promoting these betting platforms.
Also Read- Jharkhand News: Dhanbad Sadar Hospital doctors struggle as five months’ salary unpaid
Cases Filed Against Promoting Celebrities
The ED has registered cases against 29 well-known personalities involved in promoting betting platforms. The list includes prominent Bollywood and South Indian actors, TV hosts, and social media influencers.
According to the agency, these celebrities misled the public by endorsing betting apps in exchange for large sums of money. Such promotional campaigns helped the platforms reach a wider audience and generate significant illegal revenue.
ED Focuses on Illegal Online Betting Advertisements
In recent months, the ED has intensified investigations into illegal online betting platforms such as 1xBet, FairPlay, Parimatch, and Lotus365, which operate in India without legal authorization and use celebrities and cricketers for marketing.
ED officials stated that some platforms conceal their real identity by using fake names. QR codes in their advertisements lead users directly to betting websites, which is illegal under Indian law.
Also Read- NHRC issues notice to Dhanbad authorities over Ramkanali Mine tragedy
Raids Conducted Across 15 Locations
As part of the investigation, the ED recently conducted raids at 15 locations across cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Madurai, and Surat, uncovering multiple betting rackets and seizing technical equipment and documents.
Telangana Police Also Registered Cases
The Telangana Police has similarly registered cases against more than 25 celebrities, including Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj. The actors, during their statements, denied any involvement in illegal activities.
