Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been summoned by the country’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its probe into an illegal online betting platform, officials said Thursday.
Dhawan, 38, has been asked to appear before the agency in New Delhi where his statement is likely to be recorded, according to people familiar with the development. The investigation concerns alleged financial fraud and money laundering linked to 1xBet, an online betting app that was recently banned in India under new gaming laws.
The ED suspects that promotional campaigns featuring the cricketer were used to lure the public into betting on the outlawed platform. Officials are seeking details of Dhawan’s contract with the company and the nature of financial transactions involved. His brother has also reportedly been summoned.
The move comes weeks after another former India international, Suresh Raina, was questioned by the agency in the same case.
Dhawan, nicknamed “Gabbar” by fans, retired from international cricket last year after a decade-long career across formats. He played 167 one-day internationals, scoring 6,793 runs at an average of nearly 44 with 17 centuries and 39 fifties. He also featured in 34 Tests, making 2,315 runs at 40.61, and scored 1,759 runs in 68 T20 internationals.
Authorities allege that several online betting platforms have been operating illegally in India, siphoning off funds and duping users. The ED has conducted searches across multiple cities as part of its ongoing crackdown.
There was no immediate comment from Dhawan or his representatives.
