On Thursday (September 04), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned the Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan’s due to the allegations against him in the online betting app case.
The 39-year-old underwent an investigation linked to the illegal betting app named ‘1xBet’. He spent nearly eight hours at the federal probe agency in central Delhi, having arrived at 11 am and left after 07 pm.
Several high-profile cricketers who have been part of the online betting apps have now come under scrutiny. For instance, Dhawan’s teammate and former cricketer Suresh Raina was questioned by the federal probe regarding this case.
Currently, the agency is investigating several cases where illegal betting apps are accused of cheating several investors worth crores or rupees or have dodged paying a huge sum of tax.
Interrogation with Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan’s statement was recorded by the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This move was aimed at figuring out his connection with the money laundering and online betting apps, particularly through brand promotional endorsements.
In other words, the ED is examining whether Dhawan intentionally supported those platforms and if any transactions are linked to money laundering activities.
The insiders within the agency revealed that the left-handed batter was questioned on how the betting app owners approached him, the funds transferred to him, tax-paying records, and other financial-related agreements.
Celebrities Under Scrutiny for Promoting Online Betting Apps
Since 2024, not only the cricketers, but also several film stars from the Bollywood and South Indian industry have been under the scanner for promoting illegal betting apps, which include the names of:
| Celebrities | Profession |
| Vijay Devarakonda | Tollywood Actor |
| Rana Daggubati | Tollywood Actor |
| Prakash Raj | Indian Actor— Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada languages |
| Urvashi Rautela | Bollywood and Tollywood Actress |
| Harbhajan Singh | Former Indian Spinner |
| Suresh Raina | Former Indian Batter |
| Yuvraj Singh | Former Indian Batter |
| Sonu Sood | Indian Actor— Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi |
| Manchu Lakshmi | Tollywood Actress and Television Presenter |
| Nidhi Agarwal | Tollywood Actress |
Earlier this year, in June, the former Indian cricketers like Harbhajan, Raina, and Yuvraj were interrogated by the agency along with the film celebrities like Urvashi Rautela and Sonu Sood. This investigation was meant to find out their connections with banned online betting platforms like Parimatch, FairPlay, 1xBet, Lotus365, and several others.
A Tight Investigation: 1xBet Under Scrutiny
1xBet, one of the world’s famous betting platforms, is under surveillance due to the allegations received for operating illegally in India by attracting massive users through indirect advertising and celebrity endorsements.
Even after the Indian government’s ban on real money gaming apps, it is reported that platforms like 1xBet have managed to get ahead by frequently changing the brand names or migrating their operations to stay off the radar.
Therefore, the ED is investigating 1xBet and has taken a greater initiative to curb the illegal betting apps. According to the reports provided by the experts, the online betting in India is above $100 billion and has continued to surge 30% annually.
Additionally, the ED has recently questioned the top executives from Google and Meta as part of their investigation process. Parallelly, searches were conducted in different states to investigate a similar case that involved another betting app named ‘Parimatch’.
ED Officer’s Statement: Nearly 110 Million Regular Users in Betting Apps
One of the ED officers explained how several betting platforms are being operated under different names despite being banned a few years back:
“Yes! Several platforms have violated multiple laws and the regulations formulated by the Indian government. They avoid paying taxes, transfer money illegally to other countries, and breach the rules under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
As per the statistical reports, nearly 220 million Indian users are registered on betting apps. Out of which 110 million are frequent users.
Considering the records in the first three months of 2025, there were nearly 1.6 billion visits listed on illegal betting apps or websites. The online betting market in India surged upto $100 million. Furthermore, the top betting apps are bypassing tax worth INR 27,000 crores annually,” the ED officer said.
According to the data provided by the electronics and IT ministry to the parliament in the previous month, the Indian government ordered blocking 1,500+ illegal gambling apps and websites.
Also Read: Inspiration from Dhoni: Fatima Sana Aims to Shape Her Captaincy Ahead of Women’s World Cup 2025!
Public Reaction to Shikhar Dhawan’s Interrogation
The news regarding Shikhar Dhawan’s interrogation sparked debates among the public and garnered a high level of attention from the media across the nation.
Known as one of the most reputable Indian cricketing figures, Dhawan unexpectedly getting involved in a betting app case has raised questions about celebrities’ responsibilities in supporting such platforms.
So far, the ex-Indian opener hasn’t voiced any statements publicly, which leads fans and media to speculate on the news from different angles.
As of now, the ED is delving deeper and conducting a thorough investigation to find out how these apps operate, popular sporting figures involved in the endorsements, and the possible legal violations of these betting apps. Also, this incident serves as a caution for other celebrities should completely understand the legal risks involved before endorsing such platforms.
