NEW DELHI– Actress and model Urvashi Rautela appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in New Delhi on Tuesday for questioning in connection with the ongoing probe into the illegal online betting platform 1xBet.
Officials confirmed that Rautela was summoned earlier this month and is currently being questioned as part of the agency’s wider investigation into alleged money laundering linked to the app. The ED has already questioned several celebrities, including cricketers and actors, over their associations with the company.
Earlier in September, former Indian cricket star Shikhar Dhawan was grilled for hours by the ED about his advertising contract with 1xBet. Former cricketer Suresh Raina has also been questioned in the case.
Dhawan, who retired from all forms of cricket last year, reportedly sought to clarify his role as a brand endorser. Officials said his questioning was aimed at understanding his contractual ties with the betting app, which is banned in multiple countries.
The 1xBet India website promotes a wide range of betting options, from cricket and football to casino slots and e-sports, and even allows wagers through Telegram. Though headquartered in Cyprus, the company has been forced to pull out of the U.K., U.S., Russia, Spain, and France following investigations into alleged financial improprieties.
The scandal surrounding 1xBet comes on the heels of the high-profile Mahadev Satta App case, in which Bollywood stars including Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Boman Irani, and Hina Khan were linked to promotional activities. That investigation exposed a Rs 5,000 crore hawala racket operating between the UAE and Pakistan.
The controversy also coincides with India’s recent efforts to crack down on illegal gambling. Last month, Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, designed to regulate the fast-growing gaming and e-sports sector while banning real-money wagering platforms. Between 2022 and June 2025, the government issued 1,524 orders to block gambling websites and apps. (Source: IANS)
