Cricketer Suresh Raina appears before ED in money laundering case

Suresh Raina. Image/File Pic

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday. The Indian cricket stalwart was summoned by the investigative agency in view of his relations to the betting application 1xbet. Suresh Raina, in a video, was seen entering the ED office during the early hours of Wednesday.

As reported by the news agency, the federal probe agency will record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The investigation into money laundering is linked to an "illegal" betting app named 1xBet, the sources said.

The 38-year-old former Indian cricketer is understood to have been linked to the app through certain endorsements. Although nothing has been stated by the Enforcement Directorate related to Suresh Raina in the media, sources suggest that the ED wants to understand his links with this app during the questioning.

The central agency is probing multiple such cases involving illegal betting apps that are alleged to have duped numerous people and investors of crores of rupees or to have evaded a huge amount of taxes.

Apart from Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, actor Rana Daggubati also appeared before the ED on Monday. Renowned actor Rana Dagguatti was also summoned regarding the alleged online betting games promotion case.

Furthermore, the Enforcement Directorate had also issued a summons notice to the actor for July 23, but due to Daggubati's prior commitments and shooting schedule, the artist sought time to appear at the Hyderabad Zonal ED office.

As reported by the news agency ANI, during January 2025, the Telangana police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 celebrities and influencers, including popular figures like Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi, for allegedly promoting illegal betting and gambling apps through their social media platforms.

Reportedly, the FIR was launched by the Telangana police after a petition filed by 32-year-old businessman PM Phanindra Sarma. The complaint, lodged on March 19, 2025, highlighted a disturbing trend of celebrities and influencers promoting illegal gambling apps that violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867.

The FIR about the same was launched at the Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad under multiple sections of the TS Gaming Act and the IT Act, including Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, which deals with cheating and identity theft.

(With inputs from ANI)