Betting probe heats up: ED summons Mimi Chakraborty and Urvashi Rautela

In a dramatic escalation of India's crackdown on illegal online betting apps, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned two prominent actresses—Mimi Chakraborty from Tollywood and Urvashi Rautela from Bollywood—for questioning in a high-stakes money laundering probe. Scheduled to appear at the ED headquarters in Delhi on September 15 and 16 respectively, the duo joins a growing list of celebrities under scrutiny for allegedly endorsing banned platforms like 1xBet, FairPlay, and Lotus365.

This comes hot on the heels of Tollywood actor Ankush Hazra's involvement earlier this year, signaling that no star is too big to escape the agency's net in what has ballooned into a Rs 27,000 crore annual tax evasion scandal. With over 1.6 billion visits to these shadowy sites in just the first quarter of 2025, the investigation underscores how glamour and quick cash have fueled a $100 billion underground empire, leaving fans stunned and the entertainment world on edge.The betting app saga first exploded into public view earlier this year when

ED raids exposed a web of celebrity endorsements propping up these illicit operations. Platforms disguised as "skill-based gaming" apps lured users with promises of easy wins, but authorities say they thrive on luck and deception, siphoning billions in untaxed revenue. Mimi Chakraborty, the fiery Bengali star known for her roles in hits like Poster Boys and her brief stint as a Trinamool Congress MP, has been a social media sensation with millions of followers—many of whom might have clicked on her promotional links without a second thought. Urvashi Rautela, the bold Bollywood beauty who's graced films like Sanak and stirred headlines with her high-profile feuds, faced backlash back in June for her ties to Lotus365.

Now, as the probe deepens, both women are expected to explain their promotional deals, with ED sources hinting at potential asset freezes if links to money laundering surface.Ankush Hazra's name first surfaced in August, pulling the spotlight onto Tollywood when ED summoned the tollywood hero  for promoting similar apps. His appearance marked a shift, as the agency moved beyond cricketers like Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina—who were grilled in June—to target regional film stars.

For Mimi and Urvashi, the summons couldn't come at a worse time. Mimi, who stepped away from politics to focus on acting, was riding high on her latest web series buzz when this bombshell dropped. Fans flooded social media with support, but whispers of contractual oversights and shady middlemen are already swirling. The ED's strategy is clear: hit the influencers hardest to dismantle the ecosystem.

Past actions, like the April seizure of Rs 573 crore in assets from the Mahadev app case, show they're not bluffing.As the September dates loom, the entertainment fraternity is buzzing with unease. South Indian stars like Vijay Deverakonda and Rana Daggubati, already named in complaints alongside 25 Telugu actors, are sweating under similar shadows.

Even Bollywood's Sonu Sood faced the heat earlier, his philanthropic image clashing with endorsement regrets. This probe isn't just about fines or freezes—it's a wake-up call on how fame can fund felonies. With the illegal betting market exploding amid smartphone saturation, experts warn that without stricter ad regulations, more stars could tumble.What does this mean for the future? Bollywood and Tollywood insiders predict a chill on quick endorsement gigs, pushing agencies toward due diligence.