In a major crackdown on illegal online betting, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has temporarily attached properties of several prominent Bollywood celebrities. The action comes in connection with the illegal betting app One X Bet.
The ED has seized assets worth approximately ₹7.93 crore, belonging to actor Sonu Sood, actresses Urvashi Rautela, Mimi Chakraborty, Neha Sharma, and actor Ankush Hazra. Specifically, assets worth ₹1 crore of Sonu Sood, ₹2.02 crore of Urvashi Rautela’s mother Meera Rautela, ₹59 lakh of Mimi Chakraborty, ₹1.26 crore of Neha Sharma, and ₹47.20 lakh of Ankush Hazra have been attached. Combined with other accounts, the total value exceeds ₹7.93 crore.
The investigation revealed that the One X Bet app and its associated brands were operating illegal online betting platforms in India without legal permission. To promote the app, several celebrities were allegedly used in endorsements, knowingly associating with foreign companies to facilitate and conceal illegal earnings.
During the probe, the ED found that the app leveraged social media, online videos, print, and other channels to attract users for betting in India. Thousands of fake and rented bank accounts were used for large-scale transactions. The ED conducted raids on major payment gateways in the country and froze more than 60 bank accounts linked to the operation.
This move is part of the ongoing effort by authorities to curb illegal betting and hold accountable those allegedly promoting such operations in India.
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