New Delhi

Actor and model Neha Sharma on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with a money laundering probe linked to online betting platform 1xBet, officials said.

The 38-year-old’s statement is being recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sharma is believed to be associated with the platform through endorsement deals, the officials said.

The investigation concerns alleged illegal operations of 1xBet in India. Though registered in Curacao, the platform targeted Indian users without authorisation by using surrogate branding and advertisements across social media, online videos and print media, according to the ED.

The agency has alleged that payments for celebrity endorsements were routed through multiple foreign intermediaries to conceal the illegal source of funds.

As part of the ongoing probe, the ED has earlier attached assets worth ₹11.14 crore belonging to former cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina after questioning them. The agency has also examined sporting stars Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, and actors Sonu Sood, Urvashi Rautela (1xBet’s India brand ambassador), Mimi Chakraborty and Ankush Hazra.

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The Union government has recently enacted legislation to ban real-money online gaming in the country.