In New Delhi, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized assets belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan as part of its probe into the illegal offshore betting platform 1xBet. The ED attached movable and immovable property worth a total of ₹11.14 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case.
Raina’s name stood on mutual‑fund shares worth ₹6.64 crore, while Dhawan owned a property valued at ₹4.5 crore that the agency froze. According to the ED, the cricketers had signed endorsement deals with 1xBet’s foreign operators—a move that funneled payments through overseas accounts and hid the illegal origin of the money.
The 1xBet operation ran without permission in India, using social‑media ads, online videos and print promotions to lure users. Investigators uncovered a money‑laundering trail exceeding ₹1,000 crore, with over 6,000 “mule” bank accounts collecting bets from Indian users and funneling them through numerous payment gateways. More than 60 bank accounts linked to the scheme have been frozen, and the ED has blocked over ₹4 crore in related funds.
In its public advisory, the ED warned citizens to stay away from online betting and gambling sites. Helping or promoting such platforms can trigger PMLA charges, which carry up to seven years of prison time and the attachment of illicit proceeds.
The investigation is still underway, and the agency will keep the public updated as more evidence comes to light.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
