ED attaches assets worth Rs 11.14 cr of Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan in 1xBet money laundering case

PTC Web Desk:  The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets valued at Rs 11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to the alleged illegal betting platform 1xBet, officials said on Thursday.

According to sources, the ED issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), seizing an immovable property worth Rs 4.5 crore owned by Shikhar Dhawan and mutual fund investments amounting to Rs 6.64 crore belonging to Raina.

The federal agency’s investigation reportedly revealed that both players had “knowingly” signed endorsement deals with foreign entities associated with 1xBet and its surrogate websites, which were allegedly promoting illegal betting operations in India.

Apart from Raina and Dhawan, the ED has also questioned several high-profile persons, including former cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, actors Sonu Sood, Urvashi Rautela, and Bengali celebrities Mimi Chakraborty (former TMC MP) and Ankush Hazra, in connection with the case.

1xBet, which is registered in Curacao, claims to be an international bookmaker with nearly two decades of experience in the betting industry. However, Indian authorities allege that the platform has been operating illegally in the country through surrogate advertising and unauthorised betting activities.