Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa appeared at the ED headquarters in New Delhi on Monday. He is being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case related to an alleged illegal betting app called 1xBet.
ED Summoned Robin Uthappa: Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa was summoned to appear at the ED headquarters in New Delhi on Monday. He was called for questioning in a money laundering (PMLA) case linked to the alleged illegal betting app 1xBet. This case is related to the promotion and endorsement activities of cricketers and other celebrities.
ED Questions Uthappa
The ED issued a notice to Uthappa to appear at the agency's headquarters at 11 AM on Monday. The agency's objective is to ascertain Uthappa's involvement in the promotion or endorsement of the 1xBet app. The questioning is also investigating whether Uthappa used his image to promote the app in exchange for any payment or benefits. The questioning primarily focuses on the following points:
- How the company contacted cricketers and approached them for endorsement.
- Who was the nodal person for contact in India.
- The mode of payment (hawala or banking channel) and the place of payment (India or abroad).
- Whether cricketers were aware that online betting and gaming are illegal in India.
- Contracts, emails, and other documents related to 1xBet.
Uthappa's statements are being recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and the agency is attempting to uncover any financial or non-financial involvement he may have in this illegal network.
Raina and Dhawan Questioned Earlier
Previously, the ED had also questioned former cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan in this case. Additionally, Yuvraj Singh has been issued a notice to appear on Tuesday. The agency is also investigating digital platforms and companies to uncover networks involved in illegal online betting and money laundering.
Last month, the ED also conducted raids in several states in cases related to another online betting app, Parimatch. The 1xBet company has been active in the betting industry for the past 18 years. On this platform, customers can bet on thousands of sports. The app and website are available in 70 languages. The ED believes that such apps are not only illegal but are also used for large-scale money laundering activities. It is alleged that these platforms defrauded millions of users and investors of crores of rupees and evaded a significant amount of tax.
