Suresh Raina rounded up by ED over alleged ties to illegal betting apps
Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over eight hours on Wednesday in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to illegal online betting platforms. The probe is focused on uncovering the financial trail and possible involvement of celebrities and influencers who may have endorsed or promoted these betting apps. Raina arrived at the ED’s Delhi office around 11 a.m., where he was seen interacting with ED officials and CISF personnel stationed outside the premises. His questioning reportedly continued throughout the day, concluding around 8 p.m., as part of the agency’s broader crackdown on digital gambling and money laundering networks.
The investigation is particularly centered on understanding whether Raina had any financial ties or promotional association with betting platforms like 1xBet, which is under scrutiny for operating illegally in India. The ED recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is reportedly looking into the nature of payments and any communication he may have had with the app's promoters.
The Enforcement Directorate recorded former cricketer Suresh Raina’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with his alleged endorsement of a sports betting app reportedly involved in illegal operations. According to sources cited by PTI, Raina had promoted the betting platform, prompting the ED to question him about his association with the company.
Officials are looking into whether the former Indian batter received any endorsement fees, the mode of payment, and the nature of communication between him and the promoters of the app. The agency aims to determine the extent of his involvement and whether there was any direct or indirect participation in the app's operations. In a related development, an ED officer confirmed that another former Indian cricketer has also been summoned to appear before the agency. However, the identity of this second individual has not yet been disclosed.
The Enforcement Directorate is actively questioning several celebrities, along with representatives from tech giants Google and Meta, as part of its probe into illegal online betting apps. The agency is investigating multiple cases where such platforms allegedly duped investors of crores and evaded taxes. Media houses and tech firms that received advertising revenue from these apps have also come under scrutiny.
According to PTI, India has around 22 crore users of online betting apps, with nearly half of them being regular users. The market value of these platforms in India is estimated to exceed USD 100 billion. Despite the Information and Broadcasting Ministry issuing four advisories in 2023 urging newspapers, news channels, online media, and social platforms to refrain from promoting these apps, endorsements continued.
