Yuvraj quizzed by ED for 7 hrs in betting app case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday questioned former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh for more than seven hours in connection with its money laundering probe into an online betting platform.

The 43-year-old reached the ED’s central Delhi office around noon, accompanied by his lawyers. His statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, officials said. Influencer Anveshi Jain was also questioned in the case on Tuesday.

The ED has, over the past few weeks, summoned several celebrities, including former cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan and Robin Uthappa, former TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra. Actor Sonu Sood has been asked to appear on Wednesday.

Investigators are examining whether celebrities knowingly promoted the platform, 1xBet, despite betting being illegal in India. They have been asked to submit contracts, emails and payment details to establish whether endorsements involved hawala or banking channels, and if money received can be treated as “proceeds of crime".

1xBet presents itself as a global bookmaker with operations in 70 languages. However, the Indian authorities allege it duped users of crores of rupees while evading large-scale taxes. Sources said the ED might soon attach assets of those found to have benefitted from the app’s operations, followed by a chargesheet.

The probe comes amid a government crackdown on illegal online gaming. Parliament was informed recently that 1,524 blocking orders against betting platforms were issued between 2022 and June 2025. Before the ban, India had an estimated 22 crore users of such apps, with the market pegged at over USD 100 billion and growing at 30 per cent annually.