Cricket Icon Yuvraj Singh Faces ED Grill Over Shadowy Betting App Ties
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensified its crackdown on illicit gambling networks Tuesday, summoning former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh for questioning in a sprawling money laundering investigation tied to prohibited betting applications. Bollywood actor Anveshi Jain also presented herself at the agency’s headquarters around 11 a.m., marking another high-profile figure drawn into the probe.
This examination comes amid escalating scrutiny of celebrity endorsements fueling illegal online wagering, which authorities allege has siphoned off roughly ₹27,000 crore in evaded taxes. Officials estimate that some 22 crore Indians engage with these shadowy platforms, including 11 crore classified as regular participants, underscoring the pervasive reach of the underground economy.
The roster of interrogated stars continues to expand as the ED targets promotional activities that have propelled apps like 1xBet, FairPlay, Parimatch, and Lotus365 into the mainstream, despite regulatory prohibitions. Just a day prior, on Monday, ex-cricketer Robin Uthappa and social media personality Anjali Arora endured lengthy sessions at the ED office. The inquiry, which kicked off in June, has already ensnared Tollywood performers alongside retired players such as Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, all compelled to furnish statements regarding their purported backing of these banned services.
The federal agency views these endorsements as a critical vector for the proliferation of unlawful betting, contravening statutes on money laundering and fiscal fraud. In a pivotal development last month, the President affixed her signature to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, aiming to rein in such digital vices.
Earlier, the ED issued notices to executives from tech behemoths Google and Facebook, accusing their services of hosting advertisements for illicit betting outfits and veiled promotions. Agency insiders highlighted the sophisticated tactics employed by operators, noting that “apps like 1xBet, FairPlay, Parimatch, and Lotus365 are heavily promoted by celebrities. 1xBet is promoted by Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Sonu Sood, Suresh Raina, Urvashi Rautela, and several social media influencers despite bans.”
Investigators have employed decoy profiles to infiltrate these platforms, unearthing networks of mule accounts for deposits and withdrawals. “Dummy accounts were made on the platform by officers, and details of deposit and withdrawal mule accounts being used were identified. The ED has identified several benami accounts so far and action has been taken,” sources revealed. Yet, the operators’ agility poses ongoing hurdles: “However, they use accounts for only a few hours. By the time we identify the VPA handle, get call details from NPCI, and send directions to the bank, the money is already laundered.”
The probe now encompasses other notorious entities like Mahadev Book, reflecting a broader ED offensive against the multibillion-rupee scourge eroding India’s financial safeguards. As endorsements from sports heroes and entertainment luminaries lend undue legitimacy to these operations, regulators signal a zero-tolerance pivot to safeguard vulnerable users and reclaim lost revenues.