Sikhar Dhawan Faces Investigation by the Enforcement Directorate Following Suresh Raina's Implication in an Illicit Betting App Scandal
In a significant turn of events, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting a money laundering probe into the illegal betting app, 1xBet. The investigation, which is being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), is focused on allegations of financial frauds, including the duping of numerous people and investors worth crores of rupees, and evading taxes.
The crackdown on online betting apps is a result of the recent government legislation, the 'Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025'. This legislation bans all real-money online gaming, affecting both fantasy and gambling sites. As a result, several popular online betting apps, including 1xBet and Parimatch, are under investigation.
Estimates suggest that approximately 22 crore Indian users were using various online betting apps, with about 11 crore being regular users. The investigation into 1xBet has revealed that the app is alleged to have been linked to former India cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina through endorsements.
Shikhar Dhawan, who represented India 269 times and scored over 10000 international runs, including 17 ODI and seven Test centuries, has not yet been questioned in connection with the investigation. Suresh Raina, a former India all-rounder, was questioned by the ED for more than eight hours in relation to the 1xBet betting app.
In addition to the ED, Google and Meta representatives have also been questioned in connection with the investigation of online betting apps. The investigation is ongoing, and multiple cases are currently under investigation regarding financial frauds by such apps and websites.
However, there is no information available in the search results about a subcontractor of the illegal betting app 1xBet who is also under investigation. The investigation into the 1xBet betting app is a significant step in the ongoing efforts to combat financial fraud and ensure the integrity of online gaming in India.
