ED attaches assets worth ₹11.14 crore belonging to former cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan in 1xBet money laundering case

New Delhi [India], November 6 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached movable and immovable assets valued at Rs 11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation against the operators of illegal offshore betting platform 1xBet.
The attached assets include mutual fund investments worth Rs 6.64 crore held in the name of Raina and an immovable property valued at Rs 4.5 crore registered in the name of Dhawan, said the officials linked to the case.
The financial probe agency attached the properties under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The attachments were made following an ongoing money laundering investigation based on multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by various state police agencies against the operators of 1xBet.
The action, officials said, comes during searches conducted under PMLA, leading to the seizure of incriminating evidence. "Over 60 bank accounts linked to the payment gateways were frozen, with Rs 4 crore already blocked."
ED's investigation revealed that 1xBet and its surrogate brands-- 1xBat and 1xBat Sporting Lines-- were involved in promoting and facilitating illegal online betting and gambling operations across India.
"Investigators found that both Raina and Dhawan had knowingly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities to promote these brands. Payments for these endorsements were allegedly routed through foreign intermediaries to conceal the illicit origins of funds linked to proceeds from illegal betting activities," said the officials.
"Payments for endorsements were structured through layered transactions to disguise the illegal source of funds."
ED said its probe further uncovered that 1xBet operated in India without authorisation, using social media, online videos, and print advertisements to target Indian users. "Funds collected from Indian bettors were routed through over 6,000 mule accounts, which were used to disguise the origin of money. These funds were then moved through multiple payment gateways without proper KYC verification," stated the officials, close to the investigation in the case.
ED estimates that the total amount laundered through these channels exceeds Rs 1,000 crore.
The Directorate has also issued a public advisory, urging citizens to exercise caution and refrain from participating in or promoting online betting and gambling activities.
It warned that anyone knowingly assisting or allowing their bank accounts or payment wallets to be used for such transactions could face prosecution under the PMLA, which provides for imprisonment of up to seven years and attachment of assets derived from illegal transactions.
ED further advised people to avoid clicking on suspicious advertisements or betting links promising high returns, sharing or allowing others to use their bank accounts or UPI IDs for money transfers of unknown origin, downloading apps, or joining Telegram and WhatsApp groups that promote gambling platforms.
The agency reiterated that illegal betting not only causes economic harm but also fuels money laundering and other unlawful activities, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies. (ANI)