The Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisionally attached assets worth ₹7.93 crore belonging to celebrities including Yuvraj Singh, Sonu Sood, Robin Uthappa, Neha Sharma, Mimi Chakraborty, and others on Friday in the 1xBet illegal betting probe. Celebrities allegedly endorsed the offshore platform via surrogate brands like 1xBat, receiving payments through foreign intermediaries and hawala networks.
Case stems from multiple FIRs against 1xBet operators facilitating online gambling across India, generating crime proceeds exceeding ₹1,000 crore.
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Celebrity Assets Breakdown Exposed
Sonu Sood: ₹1 crore attached. Yuvraj Singh: ₹2.5 crore. Neha Sharma: ₹1.26 crore. Mimi Chakraborty: ₹59 lakh. Robin Uthappa: ₹8.26 lakh. Ankush Hazra: ₹47 lakh. Urvashi Rautela’s mother Meera: ₹2.2 crore. ED confirmed celebrities knowingly signed endorsement deals with foreign entities, structuring payments to disguise illegal funds under PMLA.
November saw ₹11.14 crore attached from Shikhar Dhawan (₹4.5 crore immovable property) and Suresh Raina (₹6.64 crore mutual funds) for similar 1xBet promotions.
ED warns influencers: promoting illegal betting platforms invites PMLA action regardless of surrogate arrangements.
Hawala Networks Fueled Endorsements
Investigation revealed layered transactions via UAE entities laundered betting proceeds into celebrity assets including immovable properties and investments. 1xBet operations spanned India despite bans, with surrogates evading detection until state police FIRs triggered ED probe.
Offshore Betting Empire Crumbles
Platform lured users with cricket, casino bets; endorsements by stars drove massive traffic and revenues funneled abroad. ED moves toward confiscation post-adjudication, targeting full proceeds network beyond celebrity fronts.
Agency eyes more sportspersons, actors with pending attachments; overseas properties in UAE under scanner. Case underscores risks of quick endorsement cash from unregulated platforms, signaling zero tolerance for glamour-washed illegal gambling.
