According to the officials, attachments were made under the “Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)”.
ED Attaches INR 11 Crore Assets of Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan in 1xBet Investigation Case; Issues Public Advisory Against Online Betting
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth “INR 11.14 crore” from former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and “Shikhar Dhawan in connection with a money-laundering investigation case linked with an online betting platform, 1xBet.
The attached assets include “mutual fund investments worth INR 6.64 crore” held in Raina’s name and an “immovable property valued at INR 4.5 crore” owned by Dhawan”. According to the officials, attachments were made under the “Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)”.
According to the agency, the investigation revealed that both players knowingly entered endorsement contracts with these “foreign entities” that were associated with 1xBet and used surrogate arrangements for the promotion of the brand.
The ED stated that the payments for these endorsements were routed through foreign entities to disguise their true source, which was tied to proceeds from “illegal betting activities”.
The ED issued a public advisory and urged citizens to “avoid participating in or promoting online betting and gambling activities”. It cautioned that such involvement could attract prosecution under the PMLA.
The agency warned that individuals who “lend their bank accounts, debit cards, or payment wallets” for the transfer of suspicious funds could also face imprisonment of up to “seven years” along with “attachment of properties” obtained from such transactions.
It further advised people to “steer clear of misleading advertisements” that promise quick financial returns or invite users to join Telegram and WhatsApp groups promoting betting apps. It emphasised that these platforms not only cause economic harm but also act as “channels for laundering illicit funds and financing unlawful activities”.
The agency confirmed that a “wider probe is underway”. The focus is on payment intermediaries, celebrity endorsers, and foreign beneficiaries that are involved in promoting such betting operations.
Citizens have been encouraged to report any suspicious online betting promotions or financial activities directly to the ED or local law enforcement agencies.
This development has reignited conversations about “accountability and ethical responsibility in celebrity endorsements”, especially as India tightens scrutiny on digital financial transactions and influencer marketing.
