NEW DELHI: The Federal money laundering agency, Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday has attached assets worth ₹7.9 crore belonging to Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthhapa, actors Urvashi Rautela and Sonu Sood, and ex-TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty in connection with a money laundering case linked to an illegal betting app, which was being promoted by these celebs.
The report said that properties and other assets of Bollywood actor Neha Sharma, mother of model Urvashi Rautela and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra have also been attached in the case to recover the money paid to them for endorsement of the illegal app.
“The ED initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by various State Police agencies against the operators of the illegal offshore betting platform 1xBet. The investigation has revealed that 1xBet and its surrogate brand 1xBat, 1xbat Sporting lines were engaged in promoting and facilitating illegal online betting and gambling operations across India,” the probe agency said in a statement released to the media. Online real money betting is banned in India and off shore operators cannot use the internet or online apps for online betting in India.
The attached movable and immovable assets include assets worth about ₹1 crore of Sood, ₹59 lakh of Mimi Chakraborty, ₹2.5 crore of Yuvraj Singh, ₹1.26 crore of Sharma, ₹8.26 lakh of Uthappa, ₹47 lakh of Hazra and ₹2.02 crore of Rautela’s mother, the report quoted sources as saying.
“ED investigation revealed that the celebrities knowingly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities for the promotion of 1xBet through its surrogates. These endorsements were made in return for payments routed through foreign entities and companies to conceal the illicit origin of the funds, which are linked to Proceeds of Crime (POC) generated from illegal betting activities,” the statement added.
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