Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, September 22, 2025. He was questioned in a money laundering case linked to the online betting platform 1xBet. Uthappa arrived at the ED office around 11 a.m. and left by 7:30 p.m. His statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).The ED is investigating 1xBet, a company registered in Curacao. The platform allows users to bet on thousands of sports events and operates in 70 languages. Authorities say the company has cheated many people and avoided paying taxes.
In recent weeks, other celebrities like Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, Mimi Chakraborty, and Ankush Hazra have also been questioned. Yuvraj Singh and Sonu Sood are expected to appear for questioning soon.
The ED wants to know how these celebrities were approached by 1xBet, the details of their contracts, payments received, and whether the money involved is considered proceeds of crime under the PMLA. The agency is also checking if the celebrities knew that online betting is illegal in India.
This comes after the Indian government recently banned real-money online gaming platforms, including apps like 1xBet. The ED is now working to stop illegal betting and related financial crimes in the country.