Why has ED summoned ex-India cricketer Suresh Raina?

Former India cricketer Suresh Raina is set to face questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday morning regarding a money laundering case connected to illegal online betting platform 1XBet, where the agency suspects his involvement through endorsements.

The ED plans to record Raina's statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) during his deposition.


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The agency's investigation focuses on understanding Raina's alleged connections to the betting app through certain endorsements.

"These platforms are in violation of multiple laws and directions by the Indian government... It is estimated that around 22 crore (220 million) Indian users are currently engaged on various betting apps, and 11 crore (110 million) of these are regular users," an official told the Hindustan Times.

Reports indicate that illegal betting websites and apps recorded over 1.6 billion visits in the first three months of 2025. The online betting market in India is estimated to be worth around $100 million, with illegal betting apps allegedly evading tax worth Rs 27,000 crore annually.

The ED had previously attached assets worth 337 crore in cases related to IPL cricket match betting last year.

One significant case involves the online platform Fairplay, whose directors face accusations of illegal IPL cricket match broadcasting and online betting activities.

"The attached assets include demat account holdings, lands, flats and commercial warehouses located at Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kutch (Gujarat), Daman, Thane & Mumbai (Maharashtra) are worth 219.66cr of the online betting app Fairplay and its promoters," the ED stated.

What is PMLA?

India's Parliament introduced the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2002 to fight financial crimes. This law helps catch people who try to make illegal money look legal. It gives authorities power to seize dirty money, requires banks to report suspicious activities, and punishes wrongdoers.

The PMLA serves as India's main weapon against money laundering. It protects the country's financial system from criminals who try to hide their illegal earnings. The law works by stopping bad actors from converting their unlawful gains into legitimate assets.

Key objectives of PMLA

• Under this law, government agencies can take away property bought with dirty money. The Directorate of Enforcement leads investigations into these crimes. They can freeze assets linked to money laundering cases.
• The law puts strict rules on banks and financial companies. They must carefully check who their customers are. They need to keep detailed records of transactions. If they spot anything suspicious, they must tell the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) right away.
• These measures help catch criminals who try to clean their illegal money through the banking system. The law makes sure that people can't easily hide their ill-gotten wealth by moving it through different accounts or buying expensive things.
• The PMLA shows India's strong commitment to keeping its financial system clean. It helps stop criminals from using banks and other institutions to make their illegal money look legitimate.

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