Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina was on Wednesday questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged illegal online betting app case. The ex-cricketer was seen at the federal agency’s office interacting with the officials of the CISF and ED in central Delhi at around 11 am. 

The ED recorded Raina’s statement in an alleged money laundering case linked to betting app 1xBET, and its advertisements were quite frequent during various cricket matches on OTT platforms. News agencies cited sources as saying that the investigating agency is trying to understand the link between Raina (38), and the app, to find if he has earned money through endorsement fees by promoting the application. 

Furthermore, the ED is also trying to ascertain the mode of communication between the two sides. The ex-Chennai Super Kings player was summoned by the agency, after which he appeared to record a statement in the case. 

ALSO READ

What is the 1xBET app and why is ED probing it?

Recently, there have been a number of cases where illegal betting apps have caused serious legal troubles to the users and many have lost as much as crores of rupees. Many are said to be evading a huge amount of taxes as well, PTI stated. the news agency cited an estimate made by market analysis firms and probe agencies and said that there are about 22 crore Indian users in various such online betting apps out of which half (about 11 crore) are regular users.

The online betting app market in India is worth over USD 100 billion, and the trouble is that it is growing at the rate of 30 per cent, according to experts, quoted the agency.

Apart from Suresh Raina, the ED recently also called the representatives of Google and Meta for questioning as part of the investigation. On Tuesday, the agency conducted multi-state searches in connection with a similar probe against an online betting app named Parimatch, which has appeared frequently during matches and other programmes on several OTT platforms.

How is Suresh Raina linked to the app?

The ED’s questioning of Suresh Raina under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from the endorsements that the ex-cricketer reportedly did for the betting app. The probe agency wants to establish the link and understand how the two sides are exactly linked. 

Previously on Monday, actor Rana Daggubati also appeared before the ED in connection with an alleged online betting games promotion case. He had asked the agency permission to appear before its Hyderabad Zonal ED office. 

Around 25 celebrities and influencers were named in a First Information Report (FIR) that was recorded by the Telangana police earlier this year. The names included Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi, and the allegation was that they allegedly promoted illegal betting and gambling apps through their social media platforms.

The FIR was filed at the Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad following a petition by 32-year-old businessman PM Phanindra Sarma. The complaint was lodged on March 19 this year, and flagged a disturbing trend of celebrities and influencers promoting illegal gambling apps that violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867.

1524 orders issued in 3 years to block online betting platforms: Centre

Last month, the Central government informed the Parliament that in the last three years since 2022, it has issued a total of 1,524 orders to block online betting and gambling platforms. In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada said that the Directorate General of GST Intelligence headquarters is empowered as an appropriate government agency under the Information Technology Act, 2000 ( IT Act ) and the IGST Act to direct intermediaries to block unregistered online money gaming platforms, including offshore online money gaming platforms, violating the IGST Act.

He said the suppliers of online money gaming are also being regulated under the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (IGST Act).

ALSO READ

“Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, ‘Betting and gambling’ is a State subject (entry 34 of the List II). Therefore, as per the provisions of article 246 read with article 162 of the Constitution, State Legislatures have the power to legislate on matters related to betting and gambling,” Prasada said in the reply.

He also added that the primary responsibility for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes, including action on illegal betting and gambling rests with the states and union territories.

Suresh Raina’s cricket profile

Raina has played 322 international matches, scoring 7,988 runs at an average of 32.87 and a strike rate of over 92. He scored seven centuries and 48 fifties in 291 innings, with the best score of 120. He was part of the Indian team that lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.

the left-hand batter also represented CSK and Gujarat Lions (2016-2017) in the Indian Premier League. He is the fifth-highest run-scorer of all time in league history with 5,528 runs in 205 matches at an average of 32.51 and a strike rate of over 136.73.

He scored a century and 39 fifties in his IPL career, with the best score of 100*.

(With inputs from agencies)