The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela and former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mimi Chakraborty in connection with its investigation into the online betting platform 1xBet. The platform is currently under scrutiny for alleged money laundering.
Mimi Chakraborty has been asked to appear at the ED's Delhi headquarters on September 15, 2025, while Urvashi Rautela is expected to appear on September 16, 2025. Once they appear, the ED is expected to record their statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED believes that both Rautela and Chakraborty are linked to the app through endorsements, and officials are expected to probe their connection to it during questioning.
This action is part of a wider investigation into illegal betting platforms and their celebrity endorsements. The ED is investigating multiple cases involving illegal betting apps that are alleged to have duped numerous people and investors for crores of rupees, or have evaded a huge amount of taxes. The agency's initial probe has revealed violations of multiple laws, including the Information Technology Act, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, and the PMLA.
Previously, the ED questioned former Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan on September 4, 2025, and Suresh Raina in August 2025, in connection with the same case. The agency believes that Dhawan is linked to the app through certain endorsements. During questioning, Raina was asked about how the owners of the betting app approached him, how money was paid to him, where they paid the tax, and about several money transactions.
In May 2025, Telangana Police booked 25 actors, including Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj, over alleged links to betting promotions. Both denied wrongdoing, stating they only endorsed platforms in regions where online skill-based games are legal. Other celebrities named in the case include Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagalla, and TV anchor Srimukhi. Daggubati also appeared before the ED in Hyderabad after postponing his July 23 summons due to film commitments.
The Union government has recently banned real-money online gaming by bringing in legislation. The government told Parliament that it has issued 1,524 orders from 2022 to June 2025 to block online betting and gambling platforms. According to experts, the online betting app market in India is worth over $100 billion and is growing at a rate of 30%. Market analysis firms and probe agencies estimate that there are about 22 crore Indian users on various online betting apps, with about 11 crore regular users.
