Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa Summoned by ED in Betting App Money Laundering Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to former Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation into several illegal online betting platforms, officials said on Tuesday.

Uthappa, the right-handed batter, is required to appear at ED headquarters on September 22 to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), while Yuvraj has been summoned for September 23. Previously, Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan were questioned by the agency on August 13 and September 4, respectively.

The probe has also extended to personalities from other fields. Former Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty was questioned on Monday, while Bengali actor Ankush Hazra appeared on Tuesday. Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela was expected to appear on the same day but had not done so at the time of reporting.

The ED has been examining the links of celebrities with illegal betting apps, including any endorsement fees received and modes of communication. Representatives from tech giants Google and Meta were also questioned in July as part of the investigation.

The financial crimes probe targets multiple illegal betting platforms that operate under changing names, often promoted through social media, app stores, and celebrity endorsements. Despite advisories from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting prohibiting such advertisements, several prominent personalities from sports and entertainment continued to endorse these apps.

The ED has highlighted violations including tax evasion, money laundering, and breaches of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), with funds being transferred abroad illegally. According to the agency, around 220 million Indian users engage with these betting apps, of which 110 million are regular users.

Officials indicate that more celebrities could be summoned as the investigation unfolds.