Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa ED Summon: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa as well as actor Sonu Sood in connection with its probe into the alleged illegal betting app 1xBet, sources said Tuesday.
“Uthappa has been asked to appear before ED investigators at the agency’s Delhi headquarters on September 22, while Singh has been summoned on September 23,” a source with the agency said.
Sonu Sood has been directed to be present before the officers on September 24, the source added.
The summons have been issued days after the ED recorded the statements of former Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in the case. Last week, the central agency also summoned former TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty, Bollywood actor Urvashi Rautela, and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra, asking them to join the ongoing probe.
According to officials, the 1xBet case involves alleged violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), with the probe focusing on financial transactions linked to the betting platform, which is banned in India. “Investigators believe promotional activities and financial trails tied to celebrities endorsing the brand could be crucial in establishing the app’s money flow,” a source said.
Uthappa, who announced his retirement from professional cricket in 2022, had featured in promotional videos for 1xBet in the past. “The agency is likely to question him about his association with the company, the nature of contracts signed, and payments received,” the source said.
The summons come amid a broader crackdown by the ED on betting apps functioning illegally in India. The agency is probing multiple such cases involving illegal betting apps that are alleged to have duped numerous people and investors worth crores of rupees or evaded a huge amount of taxes.
