Former cricketer Robin Uthappa summoned by ED in betting app Investigation

Former Indian cricket sensation Robin Uthappa found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons on Monday. The 39-year-old walked into the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) New Delhi office at 11 am, facing a grilling session in a high-stakes money laundering probe tied to the notorious online betting app, 1xBet.

Uthappa isn’t alone in this sticky wicket. The ED has already quizzed cricketing heavyweights Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, alongside Bengali cinema stars Mimi Chakraborty and Ankush Hazra, in recent weeks. And the plot thickens cricket icon Yuvraj Singh and actor Sonu Sood are next in line, summoned for questioning on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

The 1xBet scandal - Betting empire under fire

At the heart of this investigation lies 1xBet, a Curacao-registered betting giant that boasts 18 years in the game, offering bets on thousands of sporting events in 70 languages. But behind its glossy facade, the ED alleges 1xBet has been fleecing millions, duping investors, and dodging taxes worth crores. The agency is digging deep into how this platform roped in India’s biggest stars to endorse its operations.

Contracts, Cash, and Questions

The ED isn’t playing soft. Celebrities are being asked to spill the beans and hand over contracts, emails, and any paperwork tied to their 1xBet deals. With the Union government recently slamming the brakes on real money online gaming through new legislation, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The online betting market in India, once a jaw-dropping USD 100 billion industry growing at 30% annually, is now under a microscope. Before the ban, an estimated 22 crore Indians were hooked on these apps, with half being regular users.

Crackdown on betting apps

The government isn’t holding back. Since 2022, it has issued 1,524 orders to shut down online betting and gambling platforms. The ED, fresh off a strategy session in Jammu and Kashmir, is doubling down with “focused strategies” to tackle financial crimes linked to illegal betting. More sports stars, actors, and influencers are expected to face the ED’s probing questions in the coming days.

As this scandal unfolds, the nation watches with bated breath. Will these beloved icons emerge unscathed, or are they caught in a web far bigger than they imagined? Have to see