Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa on Monday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the online betting platform 1xBet.
Officials said the 39-year-old reached the agency’s Delhi office around 11 a.m. and his statement was recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The case pertains to alleged illegal operations of 1xBet, a Curacao-registered company accused of duping users of large sums of money and evading Indian tax norms. The ED is examining financial transactions, endorsement deals, and payment channels linked to celebrities who promoted the app.
Several public figures have already been questioned in the case, including former cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty, and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra. Summons have also been issued to former cricketer Yuvraj Singh and actor Sonu Sood, who are expected to appear before the agency in the coming days.
Investigators are probing how the betting company approached celebrities, the role of intermediaries, the nature of payments received, and whether those payments fall under “proceeds of crime” as defined by the PMLA.
The ED’s action comes amid a wider government crackdown on illegal betting and gaming platforms, with authorities blocking unlicensed sites and tightening compliance requirements in the online gaming sector.
Uthappa, who retired from professional cricket in 2022, has not issued any public statement on his questioning so far.
