The Enforcement Directorate seized the properties of cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan. This action comes amid allegations of promoting a banned betting app and money laundering. The ED has been investigating the banned betting app for quite some time and has been summoning all those involved in its promotion for questioning. Now, strict actions have been taken by the authorities. As per reports, a seizure worth ₹11.14 crore has been made collectively from properties of the two stars.
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The seizure has been carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, the seizure is temporary.
What are the allegations against Raina and Dhawan?
The two stars promoted a company called 1xBet. While they did not directly do ad campaigns on behalf of these companies, they acted as surrogate promoters. They promoted companies like 1XBat and 1XBat Sporting Lines. Therefore, ED has alleged that betting was indirectly being promoted in India. According to sources, Raina and Dhawan did not receive direct payment from these companies but were given other benefits. The ED has termed these transactions illegal.
How did they get the money?
Reports further suggest that mutual funds worth ₹6.64 crore were bought in the name of Suresh Raina, while Shikhar Dhawan was given assets worth ₹4.5 crore. These funds were allegedly received in return for promoting the betting companies.
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Suspected money laundering worth thousands of crores
ED said the 1xBet network allegedly routed over ₹1,000 crore out of India through betting. The ED has so far recovered over ₹4 crores and conducted raids at the offices of four payment gateway companies.
