The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has tightened its screws on Indian celebrities who have promoted b*tting apps in the past. The Central Investigative agency has been taking strict actions against celebrities and seizing some of their properties as well.
On Friday, ED took to its official X handle and announced it has seized properties worth Rs 7.93 crore. Among the multiple celebrities one is Punjab-origin cricketer Yuvraj Singh.
ED has issued an official release on X. It says that the agency has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets valued at Rs. 7.93 Crore belonging to Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthhapa, Urvashi Rautela, Sonu Sood, Mimi Chakraborty, Ankush Hazra and Neha Sharma under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
ED initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by various State Police agencies against the operators of the illegal offshore b*tting platform 1xB*t.
The investigation has revealed that 1xB*t and its surrogate brand 1xB@t, 1xb@t Sporting lines were engaged in promoting and facilitating illegal online b*tting and g@mbling operations across India.
ED investigation revealed that the celebrities knowingly entered into endorsement agreement's with foreign entities for the promotion of 1xB*t through its surrogates. These endorsements were made in return for payments routed through foreign entities to conceal the illicit origin of the funds, which are linked to Proceeds of Crime (POC) generated from illegal b*tting activities.
ED investigation has further revealed that 1xB*t operated in India without authorization and used surrogate branding and advertisements to target Indian users through social media, online videos, and print media. Payments for endorsements were structured through layered transactions using foreign intermediaries to disguise the illegal source of funds.