ED Questions Sonu Sood, Urvashi Rautela and Others Over Endorsements of Illegal Betting Apps In Ongoing Money Laundering and Tax Evasion Probe
ED Questions Sonu Sood, Urvashi Rautela and Others Over Endorsements of Illegal Betting Apps In Ongoing Money Laundering and Tax Evasion Probe
_2025-6-17-8-56-43_thumbnail.jpg)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has ramped up its inquiry into illegal online betting platforms and, in a significant development, has begun grilling Bollywood actors Sonu Sood and Urvashi Rautela—alongside cricketers Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina—for their alleged roles in promotional campaigns. According to sources, Sonu and Urvashi were summoned after their endorsements surfaced during the investigation.
As part of the probe targeting leading banned platforms, the ED has expanded its focus to celebrities whose faces have appeared in betting-themed advertisements. “They were questioned by the ED regarding their connection and endorsement deals with the online betting platforms,” NDTV Profit reported.
Authorities believe these apps operate under the guise of “skill-based gaming,” while in reality they function as gambling sites—illicit under Indian law. NDTV Profit noted that during Q1 2025, illegal platforms in India saw over 1.6 billion visits, with the ED estimating a staggering ₹27,000 crore in untaxed revenue annually.
A detailed NDTV report highlighted that “celebrity-backed betting ads” have been closely linked to a significant tax leakage, reinforcing suspicions that well-known personalities are unwittingly aiding unlawful gambling operations.
So far, no official statements have come from Sonu Sood or Urvashi Rautela. Meanwhile, the ED’s strategy clearly hinges on tracing the extent of celebrity participation in these campaigns, and whether endorsements were active, passive, or merely ambiguous.
This shift marks a new dimension in the agency’s crackdown—signaling intent to hold public figures accountable in what is widely seen as a nationwide effort to curb the explosive spread of unregulated online gambling. With the inclusion of stars and sports icons, the investigation is poised to take a more formidable turn.
Image Source - Google
- Trending
_2025-7-8-6-36-27_small.jpg)
_2025-7-8-7-10-25_small.jpg)
_2025-7-9-6-30-14_small.jpg)
