ED questions Yuvraj Singh in 1xBet online betting case

Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday in connection with a money laundering probe linked to online betting app 1xBet, officials said.

Singh, 43, arrived at the ED’s central Delhi office around noon, dressed in a white T-shirt and pants, accompanied by his legal team. His statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the officials added.

Anveshi Jain, an influencer, was also questioned by the agency in the same case. The ED has already questioned former cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, and Robin Uthappa. Former TMC MP and actor Mimi Chakraborty, along with Bengali actor Ankush Hazra, were also summoned in recent weeks. Actor Sonu Sood has been called for questioning on Wednesday.

The federal agency’s investigation is part of a wider probe into online betting platforms. Officials allege these platforms duped people of crores of rupees and evaded significant amounts of direct and indirect taxes.

According to information available on its website, Curacao-registered 1xBet describes itself as a “globally recognised bookmaker with 18 years in the betting industry.” The company states that customers can place bets on thousands of sporting events, and its website and app are available in 70 languages.

Sources said more sportspersons, movie actors, online influencers, and celebrities are likely to be summoned in the coming days. The ED may also begin attaching assets of those found using the alleged proceeds of crime generated through promotions of the app. A chargesheet is expected to follow.

As part of its line of questioning, the ED has been asking celebrities how they were approached by the betting company, who the nodal contact persons in India were, and the mode and place of payment — whether through hawala, banking channels, or abroad. They are also being asked if they knew that online betting and gaming are illegal in India. Celebrities have been told to submit copies of their contracts, emails, and documents related to 1xBet.

The agency is also checking the end use of the money received by celebrities to determine if it falls under the “proceeds of crime” as defined by the PMLA.

Recently, the Union government banned real-money online gaming by introducing new legislation. During a national meeting in Jammu and Kashmir, the ED also decided to initiate “focused strategies” to investigate financial crimes linked to illegal betting and gaming.

Before the government ban, estimates by market analysis firms and probe agencies suggested there were around 22 crore Indian users on such apps, with about half of them being regular users. Experts valued the online betting market in India at over USD 100 billion, growing at a rate of 30 per cent.

The government informed Parliament that between 2022 and June 2025, it had issued 1,524 orders to block betting and gambling platforms.