Properties worth Rs. 7.93 crores of few Bollywood celebrities and cricketers seized by ED
Names of Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthhapa, Urvashi Rautela, Sonu Sood, Mimi Chakraborty, Ankush Hazra and Neha Sharma appeared in receiving illegal money through cricket betting proceeds via foreign routes
The enforcement directorate in a money laundering case registered against the top Bollywood celebrities and eminent cricketers with regard to the illegal money received through different channels relating to FUR lodged in terms of illegal batting has confiscated properties worth Rs. 7.93 crores.
The Enforcement Directorate while revealing the names of these top celebrities of cricket and Bollywood said that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Headquarters office has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets valued at Rs. 7.93 Crore belonging to Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthhapa, Urvashi Rautela, Sonu Sood, Mimi Chakraborty, Ankush Hazra and Neha Sharma under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The ED said that the Enforcement Directorate had initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by various State Police agencies against the operators of the illegal offshore betting platform 1xBet.
The investigation has revealed that 1xBet and its surrogate brand 1xBat, 1xbat Sporting lines were engaged in promoting and facilitating illegal online betting and gambling operations across India.
ED investigation revealed that the celebrities knowingly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entiies for the promotion of 1xBet through its surrogates.
These endorsements were made in return for payments routed through foreign entities to conceal the illicit origin of the funds, which are linked to Proceeds of Crime (POC) generated from illegal betting activities.
ED investigation has further revealed that 1xBet operated in India without
authorization and used surrogate branding and advertisements to target Indian users
through social media, online videos, and print media.
Mentioning about how the illegal payment was recieved though foreign channels clandestinely the ED said that the payments for endorsements were structured through layered transactions using foreign intermediaries to disguise the illegal source of funds adding further that
earlier on 06-10-2025, ED had attached assets amounting to 11.14 Crore of
Cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina.
Warning about illegal betting the ED ED cautions one and all that illegal beting and gambling platforms cause serious economic harm and are widely used for money laundering and other unlawful activities. The public is advised to avoid such platforms and report any suspicious transactions or advertisements to law enforcement agencies, or the ED.
Celebrities and social media influencers are specifically warned that endorsing or promoting illegal betting or gambling platforms, including through surrogate promotions, is a punishable offence attract action under applicable laws said the ED press release warning the celebrities and social media influencers in particular.
