Copyright thehindubusinessline
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth ₹11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The provisional attachment, issued by the ED’s headquarters, includes mutual fund investments of ₹6.64 crore in Raina’s name and an immovable property valued at ₹4.5 crore registered under Dhawan’s name. According to the agency’s statement, the action stems from multiple FIRs filed by various State police forces against operators of the illegal offshore betting platform 1xBet. Investigations revealed that 1xBet and its surrogate brands — 1xBat and 1xBat Sporting Lines — were engaged in promoting and facilitating illegal online betting and gambling operations across India. The ED alleged that both Raina and Dhawan had knowingly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities associated with 1xBet and its surrogates. In exchange for these promotions, the cricketers reportedly received payments routed through overseas channels designed to conceal the illicit origin of funds, which were linked to proceeds of crime from illegal betting activities, officials said. The probe further found that 1xBet was operating in India without authorisation, using surrogate branding and online advertisements to target Indian users via social media, online videos, and print campaigns. Payments for celebrity endorsements were allegedly layered through foreign intermediaries to disguise the source of funds. mule accounts The latest attachment follows search operations conducted by the ED under the PMLA. The investigation has uncovered that 1xBet facilitated betting for Indian users by collecting money through over 6,000 “mule” accounts, routing the proceeds through multiple payment gateways to mask their origin. The agency said that many of the merchants onboarded on these payment platforms lacked proper KYC verification, and their declared business activities did not match their transaction patterns — indicating funds laundering exceeding ₹1,000 crore. During the searches, the ED seized incriminating documents and froze over 60 bank accounts linked to the payment gateways, blocking transactions worth ₹4 crore so far. Further investigation is underway. In an advisory issued , the ED urged the public to exercise caution and refrain from engaging in or promoting online betting and gambling activities. The agency warned that those knowingly assisting such operations — including allowing their bank accounts or digital wallets to be misused — could face prosecution under the PMLA, which carries penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment and attachment of assets derived from illegal proceeds. The Directorate also cautioned citizens against clicking on suspicious online advertisements or links promising high returns, downloading unverified apps, or joining social media channels promoting betting schemes. “Illegal betting and gambling not only cause economic harm but also aid money laundering and the financing of unlawful activities,” the ED said, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious transactions to local law enforcement agencies or the Directorate itself. Published on November 6, 2025
