ED questions Shikhar Dhawan in 1xBet money-laundering probe

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in New Delhi on Thursday for questioning in a money laundering probe linked to the illegal betting app 1xBet, officials said. Dhawan, 39, arrived at the federal agency's central Delhi office around 11 a.m., and the ED recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged promotion and financial flows tied to the platform, officials said.

Investigators say the probe centers on 1xBet and other online betting applications accused of facilitating illegal real‑money wagering, defrauding users and investors of crores of rupees, and evading taxes. The agency has sought clarification from Dhawan about his alleged endorsements of the app and his commercial ties, according to officials familiar with the matter. Earlier reports had said the cricketer was summoned; agency sources confirmed he subsequently complied with the request and attended for questioning.

The ED has been examining a pattern in which celebrities and sports figures promoted betting platforms on social media and in advertising, drawing scrutiny over how payment streams and fees were...