Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has been Raid by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning tomorrow in connection with the ongoing investigation into the illegal betting app 1xBet. Raina, who has served as a brand ambassador for the app, is expected to appear at the ED headquarters in Delhi to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
This summons is part of a broader crackdown on illegal online betting platforms, many of which have been promoted by celebrities. In recent months, several high-profile figures, including actors Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj, have come under scrutiny, though both have denied any wrongdoing and stated they no longer endorse such platforms.
Raina, who has an illustrious cricketing career with 18 Tests, 221 ODIs, and 78 T20 Internationals for India, will face questioning regarding his links to 1xBet and his role in promoting the app. The ED is investigating multiple cases involving online betting apps that allegedly defrauded investors of crores of rupees and evaded substantial taxes.
Alongside Raina, several other celebrities, including cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh, as well as actors and television personalities, are also under investigation. The agency is examining the financial transactions and digital trails tied to these endorsements.
This probe follows earlier high-profile investigations, such as the Mahdev online betting case in Chhattisgarh, which implicated senior politicians and bureaucrats, including former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Baghel has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated and coinciding with election periods.
The Enforcement Directorate’s intensified inquiry into the illegal betting ecosystem continues as it seeks to expose and hold accountable those involved in the promotion and operation of illicit gambling platforms.