Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh summoned by ED in illegal betting app case

The ED has summoned former Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa.

According to Times of India, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has called former Indian cricket players Robin Uthappa and Yuvraj Singh as part of its investigation into the purportedly unlawful online betting site.

Apart from Uthappa and Yuvraj, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood has also been summoned by the ED to record his statements.

According to sources, Uthappa, 39, has been invited to come before the organization on September 22 so that his statement can be recorded under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).

Uthappa, who retired from professional cricket in 2022, has previously starred in promotional videos for 1xBet, a betting app being investigated by the central government for alleged violations of Indian law. Yuvraj Singh, on the other hand, was called one day later, on September 23.

The organization claims that 1xBet is a well-known bookmaker with 18 years of experience in the betting business. Its website and app, which are available in 70 languages, provide wagers on hundreds of athletic events.

Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina have already been questioned by ED

The ED has summoned several celebrities, including cricketers and film stars, for promoting these fake applications.

The latest summons comes only days after the ED questioned former India stars Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in the same matter. Earlier this month, the ED questioned Shikhar Dhawan for eight hours on the issue. The 39-year-old former cricketer is believed to have been tied to the app via endorsements.

The federal agency also invited Bengali actor Ankush Hazra, Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela, and former TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty to participate in the investigation last week. Rautela is the Indian representative for the betting app 1xBet, which is charged with tax evasion, money laundering, and algorithm manipulation.

Fearing an increase in illicit betting sites that target Indian customers, the ED issued a statement warning of a new problem following the ban on regulated money gaming apps.

“Attention was drawn to the upcoming challenge of illegal platforms following the ban, calling for focused strategies to address it,” the agency said.

Officials pointed out that over 1 billion hits were made to illicit betting websites in the first three months of this year, and that the projected value of unregulated gambling activities was an astounding $100 billion.

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