The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday questioned former India cricketer Suresh Raina in his money laundering investigation against illegal online betting platforms for more than eight hours.
PTI reported that Raina, who used to watch with ED staff and CISF personnel outside the agency’s office, marked her appearance at 11 am and left at around 8 am.
The agency also recorded Raina’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to support a sports betting app, which was involved in illegal practices.
Raina allegedly supported some for the betting app. The ED questioned the former Indian cricketer to understand its link with the app, which can receive any endorsement fee, and the methods of communication used between the two sides, PTI quoted sources.
Meanwhile, an ED official said that “another former Indian cricketer has also been asked to appear before the agency”, without naming anyone.
The agency, which is calling several celebrities with the link of betting apps for inquiry, also called representatives of Google and Meta for inquiries as part of the investigation.
The ED is investigating several cases including illegal betting apps, and have also questioned the tech firms and representatives of the media house, who have received money as advertisements from them.
Under the scanner, the apps have allegedly cheated many people and investors worth crores of rupees, while also developed taxes.
According to PTI, there are about 22 crore Indians using such online betting app, half of which are regular users. The price of online betting app market in India is more than USD 100 billion, PTI said with experts.
In relation to online betting, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued four advice in 2023, newspapers, broadcasting news channels, entertainment channels, online news publishers and contents of current affairs, online advertising intermediaries and social media platforms not to advertise these platforms.
However, despite the advice, celebrities famous from entertainment and playgrounds continued to support such apps, some of them now, according to an official, are subject to ED scanner.
