Home / Crime and Justice / Bollywood Star Urvashi Rautela Grilled by Enforcement Directorate in Betting Probe
Bollywood Star Urvashi Rautela Grilled by Enforcement Directorate in Betting Probe
30 Sep
Summary
- Urvashi Rautela questioned by ED in money laundering case linked to '1xBet'
- Celebrities' endorsement fees being probed as 'proceeds of crime'
- ED investigating multiple celebrities and sportspersons in the case
On September 30, 2025, Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case linked to the online betting platform '1xBet'. Rautela, known for films like 'Sanam Re' and 'Hate Story 4', serves as the India ambassador for the platform, which is registered in the Caribbean island of Curacao.
The ED has been carefully recording Rautela's statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of the probe. This investigation is part of a wider crackdown on the usage of celebrity endorsements by online betting platforms. The agency has already questioned several high-profile figures, including actor Sonu Sood and cricketers like Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Shikhar Dhawan.
Investigators have found that some celebrities used the endorsement fees paid by '1xBet' to acquire various assets, which are now being treated as "proceeds of crime" under the anti-money laundering law. The Indian government has recently banned real-money online gaming through new legislation, as market analysis and probe agencies estimate that about 22 crore Indians were using such apps before the ban, with half being regular users.
