After Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned a couple of more former Indian cricketers, Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, for questioning in an alleged illegal online betting app-linked money laundering case. While Uthappa has been called in for questioning on September 22, Yuvraj will be required to present his case on September 23.
Both Yuvraj and Uthappa will have to record their statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case linked to a platform named 1xBet. 1xBet, according to the company website, is a globally recognised bookmaker with 18 years in the betting industry. The brand's customers can place bets on thousands of sporting events, with the company's website and app available in 70 languages, according to the company.
The probe is apparently in regards to pertains to numerous people and investors being allegedly duped by the illegal betting apps or having evaded a huge amount of taxes.
Apart from the cricketers, actor Sonu Sood also received the EC summon on Tuesday, September 16. TMC MP and actor Mimi Chakraborty's statement was recorded in the same case on Monday, while Bengali actor Ankush Hazra appeared before the ED on Tuesday. However, actor Urvashi Rautela, the India brand ambassador of 1xBet, who was also scheduled to appear before ED on Tuesday, had yet to record her statement.
Uthappa, who represented India in 59 matches in white-ball cricket, last played international cricket in 2015 while Yuvraj Singh, the two-time World Cup winner (2007 and 2011), played 304 ODIs, 40 Tests and 58 T20Is for the national side.
(With inputs from PTI)
