As reported by Times of India, the ED has called Uthappa and Yuvraj Singh as part of its probe into the allegedly illegal online betting platform, 1xBet. Bollywood actor Sonu Sood has also been asked to appear to record his statement.
Sources indicate that 39-year-old Uthappa is scheduled to appear before the agency on September 22 for recording his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Uthappa, who retired from professional cricket in 2022, has previously appeared in promotional videos for 1xBet, which is under investigation for potential violations of Indian law. Yuvraj Singh is expected to appear a day later, on September 23.
The ED has stated that 1xBet is a prominent bookmaker with 18 years of experience, offering betting services on hundreds of sporting events through its website and app, which are accessible in 70 languages.
Yuvraj Singh:Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina Questioned by ED in Fake App Investigation
This follows the recent questioning of former India cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in connection with the same case. Earlier this month, Dhawan was interrogated for eight hours over his alleged endorsements of the app. The 39-year-old cricketer is reportedly linked to the platform through promotional activities.
Last week, the ED also called Bengali actor Ankush Hazra, Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela, and former TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty for questioning. Notably, Rautela serves as the Indian ambassador for the betting app 1xBet, which is facing charges of tax evasion, money laundering, and algorithm manipulation.
The agency warned of a surge in illegal betting platforms targeting Indian users, especially following the ban on regulated money gaming apps.
“Attention was drawn to the upcoming challenge of illegal platforms following the ban, calling for focused strategies to address it,” the ED stated.
Officials highlighted that illicit betting websites received over 1 billion hits in the first quarter of this year, with the unregulated gambling market estimated to be worth a staggering $100 billion.