Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in a money laundering investigation linked to an illegal betting platform. The agency has called Raina to its Delhi office on August 13 to record his statement in a case involving the application 1xBet. The move follows ED’s ongoing crackdown on financial irregularities tied to online betting apps. Officials suspect that the retired cricketer’s name appears in the probe due to alleged associations with promotional activities. An ED source indicated that the agency intends to examine possible endorsement-related links. The questioning will form part of a broader investigation into transactions violating the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The enforcement body, which deals with economic crimes and foreign exchange violations, has not disclosed the exact nature of queries Raina will face. Last month, the ED sought cooperation from Google and Meta, asking for details of advertising patterns used by such betting apps. These platforms allegedly deploy surrogate promotions through influencers and celebrities. Read also: West Indies end 34-year drought, beat Pakistan in ODI series Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Betting Network The ED’s inquiry spans multiple cities. On Tuesday, searches were conducted at 15 premises across Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Madurai, and Surat. Investigators believe the betting ecosystem siphons colossal sums through mule accounts, crypto wallets, and fragmented transactions via UPI and ATM withdrawals. According to initial findings, more than ₹2,000 crore collected through deceptive means was routed across channels to disguise origin. Reports suggest the Indian online betting market could hover around $100 million, despite repeated government prohibitions. Officials estimate nearly 22 crore Indian users interact with such platforms, with over 11 crore engaging regularly. These operations allegedly cost the exchequer over ₹27,000 crore in tax evasion annually. Industry insiders point out that betting portals frequently alter brand identities to bypass surveillance. A senior ED officer remarked as quoted by The Hindustan Times, “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."