In a major sweep against illegal offshore betting operations, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday, December 19, 2025, provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth ₹7.93 crore belonging to several high-profile celebrities.
The list of individuals includes former Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood, and family members of actress Urvashi Rautela, among others. The action is part of a massive money laundering probe into the illegal betting platform 1xBet and its various surrogate brands.
Breakdown of Attached Assets
The federal agency issued the attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to official sources, the specific valuation of assets attached for each individual is as follows:
- Yuvraj Singh (Former Cricketer): ₹2.5 Crore
- Neha Sharma (Mother of Urvashi Rautela): ₹2.02 Crore
- Sonu Sood (Actor): ₹1 Crore
- Robin Uthappa (Former Cricketer): ₹8.26 Lakh
- Mimi Chakraborty (Ex-TMC MP & Actor): ₹59 Lakh
- Ankush Hazra (Bengali Actor): ₹47 Lakh
- Neha Sharma (Actor): ₹1.26 Crore
The Investigation: The 1xBet Connection
The ED's investigation stems from multiple FIRs registered across various states against the operators of 1xBet, an offshore betting platform registered in Curacao. The agency alleges that the platform operated in India without authorization, using surrogate branding like 1xBat and 1xBat Sporting Lines to bypass local regulations.
- Proceeds of Crime: The ED has categorized the endorsement fees paid to these celebrities as "proceeds of crime."
- Concealment of Funds: The probe revealed that these celebrities allegedly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities. The payments were then routed through layered transactions and foreign intermediaries to disguise their illicit origin.
- Previous Actions: Earlier in 2025, the agency had similarly attached assets worth ₹11.14 crore belonging to cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in the same case.
The "Surrogate" Trap
The ED highlighted that while direct betting advertisements are restricted, platforms often use "surrogate" news or sports equipment websites to lure users. The agency warned that celebrities and social media influencers must exercise due diligence, as endorsing such platforms—even through surrogates—can lead to severe legal repercussions.
The total "proceeds of crime" in this specific betting syndicate is estimated to be well over ₹1,000 crore.
