Directorate (ED) has officially summoned Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela

New Delhi – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has officially summoned Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela and former Trinamool Congress MP and actor Mimi Chakraborty in connection with its ongoing probe into the illegal online betting platform 1xBet, raising intense scrutiny of celebrity endorsements and alleged money laundering.

According to officials, the ED has asked Mimi Chakraborty to appear at its New Delhi headquarters on Monday, September 15, followed by Urvashi Rautela’s scheduled appearance on Tuesday, September 16, for questioning in the case. Their statements will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The investigation stems from concerns that 1xBet operated illegally in India, and allegedly leveraged celebrity endorsements to attract users. The ED is probing whether these public figures were paid to promote the app, how those payments were made, whether taxes were paid, and how funds flowed across accounts.

Prior to these summons, the agency had already questioned former Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, focusing on similar aspects such as endorsement contracts, financial transactions, and ties to the betting app’s promotion.

Sources indicate this inquiry forms part of a broader crackdown on apps and websites involved in real-money gaming and online betting that evade regulation. Such platforms are suspected of not only breaching advertising guidelines but also violating laws including the Information Technology Act and the Foreign Exchange Management Act, in addition to PMLA.

The ED’s action underscores mounting concern about how illegal betting platforms operate in India. Reports suggest many of these platforms disguise their operations, sometimes changing names, and use distant or offshore corporate structures to channel money. The role of media, tech intermediaries, and social media in amplifying promotions is also under their lens.

By demanding accountability from public figures like Urvashi Rautela and Mimi Chakraborty, the agency hopes to trace the chain of influence and exposure from stars to consumers. The summons also reinforce government warnings issued earlier, which banned certain forms of promotion for betting apps due to social risks, financial harm to users, and tax evasion.

Neither Urvashi Rautela nor Mimi Chakraborty has made a public statement as of now regarding the summons. It remains to be seen what evidence the ED has, and whether any legal proceedings will follow after their testimonies.

As the case develops, more celebrities could be called upon, and enforcement agencies may intensify efforts to block illegal betting operations, freeze assets if required, and hold all stakeholders—promoters, endorsers, tech platforms—responsible under applicable laws.