Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case. The probe is linked to the illegal betting app 1xBet, which is under investigation for duping people and evading taxes worth crores of rupees.
Why was Shikhar Dhawan Summoned by ED?
The ED questioned Dhawan on Thursday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Officials said they wanted to record his statement and understand his alleged links with the app. The 39-year-old is believed to have been associated with 1xBet through endorsements.
VIDEO | Delhi: Former cricketer Shikhar Dhawan arrives at Enforcement Directorate (ED) office.
The ED had summoned Dhawan for questioning in an alleged illegal betting app-linked money laundering case, official sources said. The federal probe agency will record his statement… pic.twitter.com/Oemq6zh4CN
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 4, 2025
The agency has been probing several illegal betting platforms that are accused of cheating investors and avoiding taxes. According to investigators, these apps run massive operations in India, drawing millions of users despite government bans.
Suresh Raina Also Questioned by ED
Last month, former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina was also questioned by the ED in the same case. Raina, 38, gave his statement during an eight-hour session with officials. He, too, is understood to have been linked to 1xBet through endorsements.
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Raina, who played 18 Tests, 226 ODIs, and 78 T20Is for India, has not commented publicly on the questioning. Sources said the ED wanted clarity on the nature of his association with the betting platform.
Wider Crackdown on Betting Apps
The Union government recently banned real-money online gaming through new legislation. Despite this, several illegal apps like 1xBet and Parimatch continue to operate and attract users.
The ED has been expanding its investigation. Recently, the agency called representatives of Google and Meta for questioning about these apps. On Tuesday, multi-state searches were carried out against Parimatch, another major betting platform.
Officials said these apps are not only illegal but also linked to large-scale money laundering. They allegedly duped investors and funneled unaccounted money, causing huge tax losses to the government.
Scale of the Betting Market in India
The numbers show how widespread the problem is. Market analysis firms and probe agencies estimate that about 22 crore Indians use online betting apps. Out of these, at least 11 crore are regular users.
Experts believe the online betting market in India is already worth more than USD 100 billion. It is also growing fast, at nearly 30 percent every year. Officials warn that without strict monitoring, these platforms could continue to exploit users and cause financial harm.
