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Suresh Raina has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning about an illegal online betting racket linked to the banned platform 1xBET
ED is investigating Suresh Raina’s role and earnings from 1xBET endorsement. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
Former cricketer Suresh Raina, celebrated for his explosive batting and electric fielding, is now under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) who summoned him for questioning in connection with a high-profile illegal online betting racket allegedly linked to the banned platform 1xBET. Raina appeared before the ED in New Delhi on Wednesday for questioning where the federal probe agency will record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of this investigation is linked to the “illegal” betting app, the sources said. Investigators are expected to press Raina on his role and earnings from the association.
The controversy centres on 1xBET, an international betting platform that has been outlawed in India but continues to operate clandestinely, offering wagers on everything from cricket matches to e-sports. Despite its legal status, the app has maintained a vast user base across the country.
Raina’s link to the platform dates back to last year, when the 38-year-old was announced as its “responsible gaming ambassador”. At the time, the company had portrayed the partnership as part of a campaign promoting safe gaming. Now, ED officials reportedly want to know how Raina came on board, the exact financial terms of his endorsement, and whether he was aware of the app’s illegal betting operations in India.
The ED’s probe forms part of a wider crackdown on illegal betting networks accused of defrauding users of crores of rupees and evading massive tax liabilities. While no direct allegations have been made against Raina so far, legal experts suggest his case will hinge on the extent of his involvement. If investigators find his role was purely promotional, he may be cleared. However, any evidence suggesting financial gains from the betting operations or active collusion could place him in serious legal jeopardy.
This is not an isolated instance of sports and entertainment personalities being drawn into such probes. In the past, the ED has questioned several high-profile names including Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Kapil Sharma, Ranbir Kapoor, and Huma Qureshi over their associations with betting-linked platforms.
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