The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into a sprawling online betting and money laundering racket, with Bollywood actor Neha Sharma becoming the latest high-profile figure to be questioned. The actor was summoned and her statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of the investigation into illegal betting platforms.
Details of the Investigation and Sharma's Involvement
According to official sources, the federal agency questioned Neha Sharma for several hours at its office in Delhi. The interrogation focused on her alleged financial transactions and connections with the promoters and entities linked to the controversial betting apps under the scanner. The ED is investigating multiple apps, including the notorious Mahadev betting application, which is at the center of a massive alleged money laundering network.
The probe seeks to unravel the complex web of shell companies, dubious financial flows, and the role of celebrities in promoting or being associated with these platforms. Investigators are examining whether Sharma received payments for endorsements or promotions that were channeled through illegal means. The actor's statement is considered crucial for understanding the modus operandi of how these apps used famous personalities to gain credibility and attract users.
The Larger Crackdown on Betting Apps
This investigation is not an isolated incident but part of a nationwide crackdown. The ED's case stems from multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the police in states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh. The alleged proceeds of crime generated by these betting platforms are estimated to run into thousands of crores of rupees.
Earlier, the ED has conducted raids, made arrests, and attached substantial assets in connection with this case. The agency has alleged that the promoters of the Mahadev app, based abroad, operated a vast network that collected billions of rupees from illegal betting, largely on online games like poker, card games, and cricket betting. The money was then allegedly laundered through a maze of transactions involving shell companies, fake invoices, and even hawala channels.
Neha Sharma is among several celebrities from the film and sports industries who have come under the ED's radar in this sweeping investigation. The agency has previously questioned and investigated other personalities for their potential links to the promotion or financial dealings with such platforms.
Implications and Next Steps
The questioning of a prominent actor like Neha Sharma sends a strong message about the seriousness of the probe and the agency's intent to follow the money trail wherever it leads, regardless of the individual's public stature. It highlights the legal and financial risks associated with endorsing unregulated online platforms.
Legal experts suggest that the case could have significant ramifications for advertising guidelines and due diligence requirements for celebrities. The ED will now analyze Sharma's statements alongside the voluminous digital and financial evidence it has collected. The agency may call her for further questioning if required and could also summon other individuals based on the findings from her deposition.
For now, the investigation continues as the ED pieces together the puzzle of one of the largest alleged online betting and money laundering schemes uncovered in recent years. The outcome could lead to more prosecutions and a tighter regulatory framework for online gaming and betting advertisements in India.
