Sonu Sood faces ED over 1xBet

Actor Sonu Sood appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday for questioning in a money-laundering probe linked to the online betting app 1xBet. The ED is investigating the actor’s alleged promotional activities for the platform and the financial transactions involved.

Officials said the agency aims to determine how Sood was approached by 1xBet, who facilitated the contact in India, the mode and location of payments, and whether he was aware that real-money online betting is illegal. The ED will record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 , legislation enacted to prevent the laundering of money obtained from illegal activities, identify proceeds of crime, and confiscate such assets. The agency is reviewing contracts, emails, and financial records to assess if any funds received by the actor qualify as “proceeds of crime.”

Sood is among several celebrities, cricketers, and social media influencers being questioned in the case. Others include former cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, and actors Mimi Chakraborty and Ankush Hazra. In addition, the ED has recently registered cases against 29 individuals-including actors Prakash Raj, Rana Daggubati, and Vijay Devarakonda, television hosts, YouTubers, and social media influencers,for allegedly promoting other illegal betting platforms such as Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, and Lotus365 under the Public Gambling Act, 1867 , linked to large-scale money laundering.

About 1xBet: The platform allowed users to place bets on thousands of sporting events globally and provided a wide range of games, from cricket and football to casino-style games. Money betting on 1xBet involved real-money transactions, with payouts for successful bets and the choice to engage in multiple gaming formats. The app claimed to operate legally but reportedly facilitated gambling under the radar in India, attracting celebrity promotions to increase its reach.

The investigation highlights the scale of illegal online betting in India, which before the government ban had around 22 crore users and an estimated market value of over USD 100 billion, growing 30% annually. From 2022 to June 2025, authorities issued 1,524 orders to block betting platforms, but enforcement has been challenging due to widespread online operations.

By questioning celebrities, the ED is now targeting the promotional network behind illegal betting apps, signaling a shift to stricter enforcement and efforts to trace illicit funds. More celebrities are expected to be questioned as the probe continues.