In a sweeping investigation into online betting apps, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has questioned several high-profile Indian celebrities, including former cricketers Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and Bollywood actors Sonu Sood and Urvashi Rautela. The probe centers on their alleged promotion of betting platforms banned in India, such as 1xBet, FairPlay, Parimatch, and Lotus365.
Celebrities Under Scrutiny
According to ED officials, these personalities were associated with advertisements for betting apps operating in contravention of Indian laws. The investigation is part of a broader crackdown on illegal online gambling networks, particularly those linked to the controversial Mahadev betting app ecosystem. These platforms, the ED noted, often operate from offshore locations such as Dubai and use surrogates or indirect branding (e.g., 1xBat or 1xBat Rotating Lines) to skirt regulations.
The five celebrities were summoned for questioning regarding the nature of their advertisement deals, payment sources, and the content of the promotional material. The ED is investigating whether these ads misled consumers by projecting the platforms as legal and trustworthy.
₹27,000 Crore Annual Tax Loss
The agency has estimated that the Indian exchequer is losing approximately ₹27,000 crore annually due to operations of these unauthorized apps. In one case involving FairPlay, ED uncovered that four companies had transferred nearly ₹13,000 crore overseas under the guise of import payments, a suspected channel for money laundering.
Misleading Promotions and QR Code Tactics
Officials highlighted that these betting platforms frequently disguise their services as “skill-based games” while results often rely heavily on chance. Many of the advertisements included QR codes that redirected users to betting websites, a practice in direct violation of Indian law.
Sonu Sood is said to have promoted a platform that portrayed betting apps as legitimate options for users. Similarly, Urvashi Rautela was questioned over endorsements for both 1xBet and Lotus365.
The cricketers, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina, are reportedly being investigated for advertisements that may have influenced public trust in these platforms due to their status as national sports icons.
Legal Framework and Alleged Violations
The ED believes that multiple legal provisions have been violated in these cases, including the Information Technology Act, Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and the Benami Transactions Prohibition Act.
An ED officer noted, “These platforms present themselves as skill-based games, but their outcomes depend on chance and may even involve rigged algorithms to manipulate user behavior.”
Broader Impact and Continued Probe
This isn’t the first time that the ED has cracked down on celebrity involvement in illegal online gaming. In previous phases of the investigation, Telugu film actors like Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj were also summoned for their ties to platforms like Dafabet and Betway.
The ED confirmed that more notices are likely to be issued in the coming days as the probe expands. Meanwhile, public discourse around the ethics of celebrity endorsements, especially for products or services of questionable legality continues to intensify.
As online gambling becomes increasingly sophisticated in its approach to targeting Indian users, regulatory bodies are expected to tighten scrutiny over both digital promotions and the financial trails left behind.
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