The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan for questioning in connection with a high-profile illegal online betting app investigation. Dhawan, who retired from all formats of cricket last year, is being probed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for his alleged links to the betting platform 1xBet, which he promoted on social media.
ED officials are keen to understand the nature and extent of Dhawan’s involvement in promoting the app, as part of a wider crackdown on illegal betting operations that have reportedly defrauded investors of crores of rupees and evaded significant taxes. The summons on Dhawan follows similar inquiries involving other sports personalities, including former cricketer Suresh Raina, who was questioned last month in the same case.
The investigation aligns with the central government’s recent legislation banning real-money online gaming with an aim to curb illegal betting and strengthen regulatory oversight. The ED’s probe is focusing both on the app operators and the endorsement networks that may have fueled their growth.
Dhawan arrived at the ED’s Delhi office to record his statement, facing intense media scrutiny amid the ongoing probe. Authorities are reportedly gathering evidence on financial transactions related to the endorsements and assessing any potential violations of money laundering and IT laws.
With more high-profile names expected to be summoned, the investigation signals heightened vigilance against the use of celebrity influence in illegal betting schemes. The case has drawn significant public attention given the increasing scrutiny of online betting’s impact on sports integrity and financial crime in India.
