The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan for eight hours on Thursday. This is a big step forward in the probe into unlawful online betting. The federal agency is looking into money laundering via a “illegal” betting software called 1xBet, and the questioning is part of that.
NDTV said that the ED recorded Dhawan’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The probe is looking at unlawful betting apps that are said to have cheated many users and investors out of crores of rupees and avoided paying a lot of taxes. Sources close to the case told NDTV that Dhawan gave important information during the questioning that will help the agency follow the money in the case.
According to a PTI story, the 39-year-old former cricketer was connected to the 1xBet app through certain endorsements. The ED wanted to know more about his relationship with the platform and what he was doing there.
This news comes after the investigating agency questioned another former Indian cricketer, Suresh Raina, last month in the same issue. The ED’s inquiry is part of a larger effort to shut down illegal betting sites and the famous people who support them. Sources said that the agency will also call in social media stars and YouTubers who are accused of promoting these apps in the next few days.
Experts say that the online betting sector in India is worth more than $100 billion and is rising by 30% per year. The federal government has recently passed a law that makes it illegal to play real-money games online. The government recently notified Parliament that it has given 1,524 orders to stop internet betting and gaming sites from 2022 to June 2025.
Market research businesses and probe agencies estimate that there are over 22 crore people in India who bet online, with about 11 crore of them doing it regularly.