The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started a major investigation across several regions against 29 public figures and including famous actors, TV hosts, and social media influencers. They are accused of promoting online betting apps that may also have broken Indian laws.
This case is based on police complaints (FIRs) filed in Panjagutta, Miyapur, Suryapet, Cyberabad, and Visakhapatnam. The ED believes these individuals were paid large amounts of money to advertise gambling apps that pretended to be skill-based games.
The investigation is being done under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and includes charges under the Public Gambling Act of 1867, the Information Technology Act, and the Telangana State Gaming Act.
Actors like Vijay Deverakonda, Prakash Raj, Rana Daggubati, Manchu Lakshmi, and Nidhhi Agerwal are also among those being investigated. TV and digital personalities such as Srimukhi, Ananya Nagalla, and Harsha Sai are also in under scrutiny.
Popular YouTubers and social media influencers, including the creators of the ‘Local Boi Nani’ channel, have also been named in the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).
Celebrities Accused of Promoting Betting Apps Disguised as Entertainment
Authorities say that they were several celebrities used their fame to promote apps like Junglee Rummy, JeetWin, A23, Parimatch, Yolo 247, and Lotus365. These apps are now being investigated for possibly running illegal betting operations. Some of the promotions were made to look like community events or fun entertainment, which may have misled people into joining illegal activities.
The investigation began after a complaint was filed on March 19 by businessman PM Phanindra Sarma at the Miyapur Police Station. He said that many online ads featured popular celebrities promoting these platforms. According to him, these promotions caused people—especially young users are also were lose money. Sarma even thought about investing in one such app but didn’t, thanks to his family’s warning. He also spoke to youth in his area who said they were influenced by social media campaigns to try out these betting apps.
After this complaint, the Cyberabad police filed a case against 25 people under various laws, including sections of the new Bharat Nyaya Sanhita, the Telangana Gaming Act, and Section 66-D of the IT Act, which deal with online fraud, misleading ads, and illegal gambling promotion.
Prakash Raj Clarifies: Ended Gaming App Endorsement in 2017
In response to the controversy, some of the accused celebrities have explained their side. Actor Prakash Raj said on social media that he promoted a gaming app in 2016 but stopped doing so in 2017 after realizing it was not right.
Rana Daggubati, also named in the case, said through his lawyers that his work with a gaming app ended in 2017. He added that his endorsements were only for places where such games are allowed by law. He also mentioned that skill-based games are different from gambling, according to legal rules.
Vijay Deverakonda’s team said that in a press release that he had a contract only to be a brand ambassador for skill-based games. They said that his endorsements were limited to areas where these online skill games are legal.
ED to Summon More Celebrities, FIRs Under Review
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also planning to call the celebrities named in the case for questioning soon. Reports say the investigation is looking into more police complaints (FIRs), and new complaints from people who say they lost money are being collected to understand the full scale of the problem.
Investigators believe that the ads and social media promotions helped hide big money laundering operations, making them look like normal celebrity endorsements. The ED is checking bank records and online activity to find out how involved each person is and how much money was made from these illegal activities.
This is one of the biggest actions taken in India against celebrities and influencers involved in illegal online gambling. As the investigation continues and public concern grows, more information is expected to come out in the next few weeks.
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