New Delhi, Sep 16 (NationPress) In the 1xBet illegal betting app controversy, Bengali actor Ankush Hazra and former MP Mimi Chakraborty presented their documents to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday, as reported by an ED source. It is anticipated that former cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, and actor Sonu Sood will face questioning later this month.

Both the actor and the politician were instructed to provide personal documentation and were interrogated regarding their endorsements of the betting app, according to sources.

This case revolves around allegations of money laundering linked to the operations of the 1xBet betting application.

Advocate Shashi Kaushik, representing Hazra and Chakraborty, stated, "These are routine documents that everyone carries, nothing out of the ordinary. They are simply complying with standard procedures.”

“The authorities are validating their connections, which is a common practice. It’s not an interrogation, just a standard investigation...” added Advocate Kaushik the day after their appearance at the ED office.

The inquiry stems from the 1xBet illegal betting case, which has already seen multiple actors and cricketers questioned.

ED sources revealed that Uthappa is scheduled to appear on September 22, Yuvraj Singh on September 23, and Sonu Sood on September 24.

Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has also been interrogated by the ED regarding alleged money laundering linked to an "illicit" gaming app he endorsed.

The probe agency summoned Dhawan to clarify his advertising contract with 1xBet, leading to hours of questioning during his visit to the ED in the national capital.

In addition to Dhawan, former cricketer Suresh Raina was recently interrogated by the ED as part of the ongoing 1xBet investigation.

Dhawan, who owns the South Delhi Superstarz team in the Delhi Premier League, retired from all forms of cricket in August of last year after a career spanning more than a decade.

The 1xBet India website claims to provide a variety of sports betting options to its registered users, including games like Aviator Game Online, cricket betting lines, and online casino slots. The platform facilitates betting via Telegram payments on sports events such as football, basketball, cricket, tennis, and e-sports.

The company behind the app is headquartered in Cyprus and is recognized as one of the largest online casinos. It has sponsored football teams in Spain and France, but was forced to withdraw its services from the UK, US, Russia, Spain, and France following investigations into alleged financial misconduct.

The controversy surrounding Dhawan’s association with the illegal app is reminiscent of the uproar caused last year by the Mahadev Satta App, which involved celebrities such as Ranbir Kapoor, Boman Irani, Hina Khan, and Shraddha Kapoor.

The ED initiated a probe against the app after a lavish reception held by one of its founders in the UAE, which revealed a Rs 5,000 crore hawala racket operating out of the UAE and Pakistan.