00:00All right, more breaking news coming in. In the latest, E.D. has summoned Yuvarath Singh
00:06in the illegal betting apps case. Former cricketer Yuvarath Singh, who's been summoned by the E.D.,
00:13cricket legend Yuvarath Singh, who's been summoned in this particular case. Let's get further details
00:18from my colleague Shreya to the date of summons, whether that has been fixed or when he has to
00:24appear before the E.D. And again, given many celebrities who've been questioned, some have
00:31also put out statements saying that until the point that they weren't aware, they continued in it,
00:37after which they got out of it. What is Yuvarath Singh's position?
00:44Well, Shreya, we are seeing one of the biggest crackdowns that is currently under its way by
00:48the Enforcement Directorate on Real Money betting app. This particular case pertains to
00:53the 1x bet app case, where we are seeing flea of endorsers being questioned. We've already seen
00:59Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Rana being questioned in the matter. Now, Robin Uttapa called on the 22nd
01:05of September and Yuvarath Singh, one of the biggest names in the Indian cricketing history. He's been
01:10called to appear before the Enforcement Directorate. Today, Urvashi Rotela was also summoned in the case.
01:16She's yet to appear. But clearly, it's a big crackdown. This comes after the Real Money betting
01:21apps has been banned by the Union government. And clearly, what the sources inside the ED
01:25says, that these apps were actually used in a way that algorithms were rigged and money
01:30was also laundered. That's exactly why the Enforcement Directorate comes in and their investigation
01:34pans out. But clearly, we will have to wait and watch if at all Yuvarath Singh tends to summon
01:39or not. But he has to appear before the ED on the 23rd of September in the national capital.
01:44Let's give a larger perspective to our viewers because celebrities, actors, cricketers, TV
01:53personalities who've come under the radar of the ED in connection with the illegal online
01:59betting apps case. And like I said, some of them did say that they were extremely transparent
02:05in the way that money was received or sent out. And they're willing to cooperate with the ED,
02:12give every document that is within their means to submit. Also, Shikhar Dhawan was questioned for about
02:20eight hours. Rana Dhakubati, who appeared at the ED office. Like you said, Urvashi Rotela too,
02:26who's yet to be questioned. What the ED is largely basing its line of questioning around?
02:33And with regards to Yuvarath Singh, when is he likely to appear?
02:40So, the main reason we're seeing these people being questioned is also to understand the money
02:44trail. Because if they have actually endorsed, because there are proof of that, that these
02:48celebrities have extended their endorsements to these betting apps, they've also received
02:52money in return. How did they receive the money? What were the channels? All these things
02:56are right now being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. When money laundering comes into
03:00the picture. We also need to understand that these are in fact proceeds of the crime, which are also
03:05then routed for endorsement. So, anyone who's in the receiving of that also comes into the picture
03:10as a part of the crime. And that's exactly why we are seeing these people being summoned and
03:15questioned by the Enforcement Directorate. How that pans out, how much accountability will be fixed on
03:20the celebrities who have endorsed the betting apps, or will they be let go? It is something that
03:26we will have to wait and watch out for. But we cannot, I mean, we can at least say that this is
03:31indeed one of the biggest crackdowns we are seeing on real money betting apps. Flee of celebrities
03:36already questioned. And now we have Yuvrat Singh on the list along with Robin Uttapa as well.
03:42Previously, as I mentioned, Suresh Rana and Shikhar Dhawan, two other cricketers, have already been
03:47questioned in the matter.
03:48Oh, yes, absolutely. And we continue to keep our viewers ahead on how ED's questioning progresses,
03:55who all have been named as far as the illegal betting apps case is concerned. Like you rightly
04:01said, that rigged algorithms that was stated, which classify them as gambling operations under
04:08the existing Indian laws. And how big this industry largely has been, $100 billion, growing at a rate of
04:1630% annually. So many people who've been duped due to these illegal betting apps. And now these
04:23celebrities who are being questioned by the ED, so far as we understand, very few of them who've been
04:29summoned for a second time, if I'm not wrong, Shreya, and do correct me there. But largely to the
04:34information that is being gathered, you know, how do you sum it up?
04:38Well, these are individuals who are being called on the basis that they would actually be endorsers. They
04:48are celebrities who extended their endorsements in return of money. These were obviously, I mean,
04:55advertisement endorsements that were done on their part. However, the money trail is something the
04:59enforcement directorate will be investigating. Since it's a case of money laundering that we are
05:04talking about, that is precisely why we are seeing these summons. So far, the second summon
05:08is concerned. We've seen Urvashi Rotella receive one summon. She did not appear, I believe, in the
05:13month of June. And that's why subsequently she's been summoned for the second time right now.
05:17We are yet to get a confirmation or denial if she is appearing or not, because there's been
05:22no communication on her part before the enforcement directorate. But we've already seen other people
05:27appear in this particular matter. Yesterday, former TMC MP and Tollywood industry actress
05:33Mimi Chakravarti appeared in the matter. We saw Ankur Shajra, another Bengali celebrity,
05:39appear in the matter today, this morning. We've earlier seen Sureshra and Ashikhar Davan
05:43and others appear in the matter. So we will be seeing how that pans out. But both Robin Uttapa
05:48and Yuvrat Singh have been summoned in this case right now. Robin Uttapa on the 22nd of September
05:52and Yuvrat Singh on the 23rd of September.
05:5622nd of September and 23rd of September. 23rd of September is when Yuvrat Singh will be questioned.
06:01And also do confirm Shreya Sonu Sood is the latest name that has emerged. He has also been summoned
06:08by the ED in connection with the illegal bedding apps case. What more are you picking up on that front?
06:14Well, as of now, the names that we have in the picture that includes Urvashi Rotella, that includes
06:25Robin Uttapa, that includes Yuvrat Singh, that included Mini Chakravarti, that included Sureshraena,
06:31Shikhar Davan Rana, Dagubati, all these people are already concerned with these illegal betting apps.
06:37We are seeing largely the cap ground on the 1x bet app case, but it does not singularly limit to that.
06:42There are other apps which are also under the radar is what we are understanding.
06:46These are real money betting apps that are being investigated under the purview of money laundering.
06:51Precisely, the first allegation in the investigation is that the apps and the websites used to run
06:56in a manner, that algorithms were rigged and the source of the money to which the amount
07:01used to be credited or the amount used to be given from changed every particular day.
07:05That's probably why the suspicion arises whether there were multiple chain of commands that
07:10were used to read out money and that's why we see that enforcement director calling all
07:14these celebrity endorsers to understand the money trail, where did they receive the money
07:18from, who were the ones involved, the companies, the individuals involved in this particular
07:23matter because that will also help them largely base the case against the app.
07:28Whether or not we will see the celebrity endorsers face the heat of it also or not is something
07:33we will have to wait for, but as of now they are being summoned and if required we will
07:38see this man out quite long.
07:40As of now, as I mentioned, it is Robin Uttapa on the 22nd of September and Uvrat Singh on the
07:4523rd.
07:47Alright, Uvrat Singh to be questioned on the 23rd of September.
07:52Shreya, but help us understand if there is any statement from Uvrat Singh yet because like
07:58I said, some celebrities who did issue a statement even before they faced the ED officials and
08:04some who did after and in their defense, some saying that as soon as they realized that these
08:13apps were illegal or they were rooted in the wrong direction that they pulled out of it
08:19and even in terms of the money exchange or all the payments that they did receive were
08:25all very transparent.
08:28So in that sense, who are the celebrities while being questioned by the ED who may be, you know,
08:36clean right now?
08:37Of course, too early to say that, but who are cooperating with the agency and the others
08:43as well who are being questioned?
08:47Well, Swish, as you rightly pointed out, too early to say that whether the cooperation is
08:52being received on the part of the celebrity endorsers or not, but appearing on the summon
08:56is somewhere down the line taken in the fact that you are at least trying to cooperate.
09:01Whether or not that pans out the same in the time period of questioning is also for the
09:05Enforcement Directorate and the investigative agency to decide.
09:08But we've seen quite a lot of these celebrities actually tend to their summon up here before the
09:14Enforcement Directorate face, lend the hours of questioning.
09:17Like we saw Shikhar Dhawan Suresh Rehna also, we saw Mimi Chakravarti yesterday also.
09:22We've seen Ankur Shajra, he's also walked in the Enforcement Directorate office today.
09:26So there are celebrities who are coming in and at least, I mean, appearing with their sides.
09:31Whether or not the Enforcement Directorate finds those answers plausible, whether they will
09:34be sent for a second summon. We'll have to wait and watch for that. But as of now, Urvashi
09:38Rotella hasn't appeared today. This was her second summon. We'll have to see how that pans
09:43out on her part. But the fresh ones that include are that of Robin Uttapah and Yuvrat Singh.
09:48More celebrities, Swishya, who have endorsed this particular app are also probably going to be
09:54summoned by the Enforcement Directorate.
09:56Oh yes, clearly. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. Shree, I want to thank you at the
10:00moment for getting us these latest details.
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