 "Suresh Raina Shikhar Dhawan ED Case 1xBet Investigation Top 5 Expose")
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken action under the Money Laundering Act against former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan. The agency has seized properties worth around Rs 11.14 crore from both the players. This includes mutual fund investments worth Rs 6.64 crore in the name of Suresh Raina and assets worth Rs 4.5 crore in the name of Shikhar Dhawan. The ED has taken this action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The investigation was initiated based on several FIRs related to an illegal offshore betting platform called 1xBet. According to the agency, 1xBet and its surrogate brands 1xBat and 1xBat Sporting Lines were operating online betting and gambling businesses without authorization in India.
5 big revelations by ED in Raina-Dhawan case
1. Money hidden through foreign deals
The ED investigation revealed that Raina and Dhawan had entered into deals with foreign companies to promote 1xBet. Payments for these deals were made through foreign channels to conceal the true source of the funds.
2. The trap of surrogate branding
Despite being banned in India, 1xBet continued to promote its games under brand names such as 1xBat and Sporting Lines, targeting Indian users through social media, YouTube and print advertisements.
3. Endorsements in player information
The ED claims that both the cricketers knew that they were promoting illegal foreign betting brands, yet they signed promotional contracts for huge sums.
4. Money transfer through multi layer transaction
Investigation revealed that payments for these deals were made through several offshore shell companies and middle agents. These layered transactions were designed to make it difficult to trace the money trail.
5. Proven links to illegal earnings
According to the ED, the money associated with these promotions is directly linked to the “proceeds of crime” that 1xBet earned from illegal betting in India.
The agency said this is just the beginning. In the coming days, more brand ambassadors and influencers may also be targeted. There is no official response from Raina and Dhawan yet. However, ED sources say the players will be summoned and questioned soon.