ED Seizes Assets Of Suresh Raina And Shikhar Dhawan In Money-Laundering Case: Report

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday (6 November) temporarily attached assets worth Rs 11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan in connection with the 1xBet money laundering investigation, News18 reported.

According to the agency, the attachment includes mutual fund investments worth Rs 6.64 crore held in Raina’s name and an immovable property valued at Rs 4.5 crore in Dhawan’s name.

The action was taken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Investigations by the Enforcement Directorate reportedly uncovered a money-laundering network worth around Rs 1,000 crore during searches conducted at four payment gateways.

The findings indicated that online platforms such as 1xBet and its associated brands, including 1xBat and 1xBat Sporting Lines, were involved in running and promoting unauthorised betting and gambling operations across India.

As part of the probe, it was found that former cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan had entered into endorsement contracts with foreign companies linked to these platforms.

The payments for these deals were allegedly channelled through offshore entities to disguise their source, which investigators believe was connected to funds generated through illegal betting activities.

According to the report by News18, the agency stated that 1xBet operated in India without authorisation and used surrogate advertising, social media, and online videos to attract Indian users.

The investigation found over 6,000 mule accounts used to collect betting proceeds, which were routed through multiple payment gateways without proper KYC verification.

The ED has frozen over 60 bank accounts linked to these gateways, seizing more than Rs 4 crore.

Please click here to add Swarajya as your preferred and trusted news source on Google

Also Read: Demolition Begins in Dalmandi As UP Govt Moves Ahead With Project To Ease Access To Kashi Vishwanath Temple