ED attaches assets of Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Sonu Sood and others in 1xBet probe

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 7.93 crore belonging to cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, actor Sonu Sood, and several other public figures in connection with its ongoing probe into the illegal offshore betting platform 1xBet.

The action, announced on Friday, marks another major step by the agency as it investigates the betting network and its alleged financial links with celebrities.

The latest order also covers assets belonging to actresses Urvashi Rautela, Mimi Chakraborty and Neha Sharma, as well as actor Ankush Hazra, the ED said in an official release.

This comes just months after the agency attached assets worth Rs 11.14 crore belonging to cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina on October 6 as part of the same probe.

According to the ED, the attachments were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The investigation is based on multiple FIRs filed by police agencies across different states against the operators of 1xBet.

The agency stated that 1xBet and its associated brands, including 1xBat and 1xBat Sporting Lines, had been facilitating and promoting illegal online betting across India without authorisation.

The ED further alleged that celebrities knowingly signed endorsement agreements with foreign entities promoting these platforms through surrogate advertising. Payments received for these promotions were routed through overseas companies to conceal their source, which the ED believes is linked to illegal betting proceeds.

The probe also revealed that 1xBet targeted Indian users through online videos, social media platforms and print advertisements, bypassing regulatory restrictions. Endorsement fees were allegedly paid using layered financial transactions and foreign intermediaries to mask their connection to criminal activity.

In its statement, the ED warned the public about the economic risks posed by illegal betting networks, noting that such platforms are frequently used for money laundering and other unlawful activity.

The agency urged people to report suspicious advertisements or transactions related to betting and gambling to law enforcement authorities.

The ED also issued a caution to celebrities and influencers, stating that promoting or endorsing illegal betting platforms — even indirectly through surrogate branding — is an offence and could invite legal action.