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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said they have provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 7.93 crore of several celebrities, including former cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa and actors Urvashi Rautela, Sonu Sood, former TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty, Ankush Hazra, and Neha Sharma, in connection with in an “illegal” betting app linked PMLA case.
On October 6, 2025, the ED froze assets worth Rs 11.14 crore linked to former cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in connection with the same case.
“The probe revealed that the celebrities knowingly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities linked to 1xBet, accepting payments routed through overseas intermediaries to conceal the illicit origin of funds. These payments were connected to proceeds of crime generated through illegal betting and gambling activities,” the spokesperson said.
“Probe has also revealed that endorsements for 1xBet and its surrogate platforms were made in return for payments structured through layered transactions abroad to disguise their illegal source,” the agency stated. It added that the companies used surrogate branding and targeted Indian audiences through social media campaigns, online videos, and print advertisements despite lacking authorisation to operate in the country,” the spokesperson said.
The agency cautioned that illegal betting and gambling platforms pose serious economic risks and often serve as conduits for money laundering and other criminal activities. It urged the public to report suspicious advertisements or transactions related to such platforms. “Celebrities and social media influencers are advised that endorsing or promoting illegal betting or gambling platforms, including surrogate promotions, is a punishable offence,” the ED warned.
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