In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan. The action has been taken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of an ongoing probe into the illegal offshore betting platform 1xBet.
According to the ED, the attachment includes mutual fund investments worth Rs 6.64 crore held in the name of Suresh Raina and an immovable property valued at Rs 4.5 crore registered under Shikhar Dhawan’s name.
1xBet Betting Network Under the Scanner
The money laundering investigation stems from multiple FIRs filed by various state police agencies against the operators of 1xBet – a global online betting platform accused of running illegal gambling operations across India. Investigators allege that 1xBet and its surrogate brands, including 1xBat and 1xBat Sporting Lines, promoted unauthorized online betting through aggressive digital advertising and celebrity endorsements.
Raina and Dhawan Under Scrutiny for Endorsements
The probe has revealed that both Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities associated with 1xBet’s surrogate brands. The ED claims these cricketers received payments through foreign channels, a method allegedly designed to conceal the illegal origin of funds linked to betting proceeds.
Officials suggest that the players were aware of the nature of the agreements, which indirectly promoted illegal gambling platforms targeting Indian audiences through social media campaigns, online videos, and print advertisements.
Layered Transactions and Money Trail Exposed
The ED’s findings indicate that 1xBet operated in India without authorization, channeling endorsement payments through complex, layered financial transactions involving foreign intermediaries to disguise the flow of illicit funds.
During the investigation, it was discovered that 1xBet facilitated betting for Indian users by collecting money through more than 6,000 “mule accounts.” These accounts were allegedly used to route funds through multiple payment gateways, helping conceal their true origins.
Furthermore, many merchants onboarded by these gateways lacked proper KYC (Know Your Customer) verification, and their declared business activities did not match their transaction histories – a clear indicator of large-scale money laundering, reportedly exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.
ED Seizes Accounts and Evidence
Following these revelations, the ED conducted search operations under the PMLA, seizing incriminating documents and digital evidence. So far, over 60 bank accounts linked to the illicit network have been frozen, along with funds totaling over Rs 4 crore.
The agency has confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing, with efforts underway to trace additional assets and identify others involved in the laundering operation.
A Wake-Up Call for Sports Endorsements
This development highlights growing concerns over the nexus between sports endorsements and unregulated online betting platforms. The involvement of two of India’s most popular cricketers has sparked debate about ethical responsibility in brand partnerships, especially as the government and sports bodies tighten regulations around gambling-related sponsorships.
The ED is expected to release further details as the probe progresses, potentially widening the scope of investigation into celebrity endorsements linked to illegal betting networks.
