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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.
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