Online betting app case: ED summons former cricketer Shikhar Dhawan

NEW DELHI: Former cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its investigation into an online betting app case, officials said on Thursday, news agency PTI reported.Officials said the investigation is linked to an online betting platform that has been under scrutiny for suspected money laundering.In August, ED summoned former India cricketer Suresh Raina in connection with its investigation into 1xBet, an online betting platform accused of money laundering.

The probe, part of a wider crackdown on illegal betting platforms and their celebrity promoters, has already drawn in several high-profile names.Actor Rana Daggubati appeared before the ED in Hyderabad after seeking a postponement of his July 23 summons due to film commitments. In May, Telangana Police booked 25 actors — including Daggubati and Prakash Raj — over alleged links to betting promotions. Both denied wrongdoing, saying they only endorsed platforms in regions where online skill-based games are legal. Other celebrities named in the case include Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagalla, and TV anchor Srimukhi.

The investigation has drawn comparisons with the Mahadev betting scandal of 2023–24, which also implicated senior politicians, including former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who described the charges as “politically motivated.” Officials said more summonses are expected as the inquiry widens.