ED Intensifies Crackdown: Cricket Icons Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, and Actor Sonu Sood Summoned in 1XBET Betting App Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has dramatically escalated its sweeping investigation into the illicit 1XBET online betting application and its associated networks. In a significant development, the financial probe agency has issued summons to cricketing legends Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, and prominent Bollywood actor Sonu Sood.

These high-profile personalities are now under the scanner, called to appear before the ED for questioning under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

This latest move underscores the ED's unwavering resolve to dismantle the sprawling web of illegal online betting operations that have allegedly funneled vast sums of money through dubious channels.

The summons to these public figures come as part of a broader inquiry that initially targeted the Mahadev online betting app, but has since expanded to encompass other platforms, including 1XBET.

Sources close to the investigation indicate that Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, and Sonu Sood are being asked to clarify their association with the 1XBET platform, particularly concerning any promotional activities or brand endorsements they may have undertaken.

The ED's primary focus is to ascertain the financial trails and the extent of their involvement, if any, in facilitating the operations or advertising of these allegedly illegal betting services.

The probe gained national attention following the extravagant wedding of Mahadev app promoter Saurabh Chandrakar in the UAE, which reportedly cost over Rs 200 crore.

The ED's investigation has since unearthed a complex hawala network used to transfer funds generated from these betting platforms. The agency claims that these illegal betting apps collectively generate a staggering Rs 450 crore daily, a significant increase from earlier estimates of Rs 200 crore.

Previous phases of the investigation have already seen other Bollywood celebrities, including Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, and comedian Kapil Sharma, summoned for their alleged links to the Mahadev app.

The ED is meticulously scrutinizing financial transactions, endorsement deals, and any direct or indirect promotions by these celebrities to understand the money laundering ecosystem better.

The modus operandi of these apps, including 1XBET, typically involves enticing users through invite links, operating via burner phones, and creating fake accounts.

The money collected from these operations is then allegedly funneled through a labyrinth of benami bank accounts, making the financial trail notoriously difficult to follow. The ED's intensified actions signal a relentless pursuit of all individuals and entities connected to these illicit betting syndicates, aiming to bring an end to a sophisticated money laundering scheme that has exploited millions across the country.