Patna: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it had attached properties linked to several celebrities, including former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh, actor Sonu Sood and Bollywood actor Neha Sharma, in connection with an investigation into illegal online betting and alleged money laundering.
Officials said assets worth Rs 1.26 crore belonging to Neha Sharma had been seized under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sharma is the daughter of Ajit Sharma, a senior Congress leader from Bihar and a former MLA.
According to the agency, Sharma is suspected of promoting the online betting platform 1xBet and allegedly receiving proceeds routed through laundering channels. The ED said it had issued an interim attachment order after examining financial trails linked to endorsements and payments.
Sharma was summoned by the agency in November and appeared before investigators at the ED’s Delhi office on December 2, where her statement was recorded under the PMLA. Officials said the probe was continuing and that the attachments were subject to confirmation by the adjudicating authority.
The ED has also seized assets linked to Yuvraj Singh, Sonu Sood and other public figures as part of the same investigation. The total value of properties attached in the case is estimated to exceed Rs 1,000 crore, officials said.
1xBet, a Cyprus-based online betting company founded in 2007, offers wagering on sporting events across multiple countries and operates in dozens of languages. The platform is banned in India, where online betting and gambling apps are under increasing scrutiny for alleged financial fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.
The government has repeatedly flagged the social impact of illegal online betting. Ministers have warned that such platforms fuel addiction and financial distress, particularly among young people and middle-class families. During the monsoon session of parliament, information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said online money games had caused “serious harm to society”, claiming that millions had been affected and household savings worth thousands of crores lost.
The World Health Organization has recognised gaming disorder as a mental health condition, adding to concerns among regulators that unchecked online betting poses risks not only to financial systems but also to public health and national security.
