The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated action against 29 celebrities, including actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, and Prakash Raj, for allegedly promoting illegal online betting platforms. The ED's case follows a complaint filed by businessman Phanindra Sarma, who alleges that these celebrities endorsed betting apps through pop-up ads and other means on social media, misleading financially vulnerable users and causing them significant losses.
The ED has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR). The list of celebrities under scrutiny also includes Nidhhi Agerwal, Manchu Lakshmi, Pranitha Subhash, Sreemukhi, and several social media influencers like Harsha Sai and the creators of the 'Local Boi Nani' YouTube channel. Authorities suspect that substantial sums of money were moved through these promotional activities, potentially involving money laundering.
The case is based on an FIR (First Information Report) filed earlier by the Cyberabad Police in Telangana. The FIR was registered on March 19 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Telangana Gaming Act (2017), which bans all forms of online betting, and the IT Act. The charges cover digital cheating, unlawful promotion of gambling platforms, and misleading users through electronic means.
Vijay Deverakonda's team responded to the FIR in March, stating that he had a contract with a company to serve as a brand ambassador for skill-based games only. His endorsement was strictly confined to regions where online skill-based games are legally permitted, and he did not endorse any illegal betting platforms. Similarly, Rana Daggubati clarified through his legal team that his collaboration with a gaming app ended in 2017, and all promotions were confined to legally permitted regions after proper vetting. Prakash Raj admitted to endorsing Junglee Rummy in 2016 but stated that the contract was compliant with existing regulations.
Other prominent Telugu TV personalities and digital content creators named in the case include Varshini Sounderajan, Siri Hanumanth, Vasanthi Krishnan, Shobha Shetty, Amrutha Chowdary, Nayani Pavani, Neha Pathan, Imran Khan, Padmavati, Pandu, Vishnu Priya, Harsha Sai, Bhayya Sunny Yadav, Tasty Teja, Ritu Chowdary, and Bandaru Supreetha. Police allege that these individuals endorsed and circulated links to illegal betting apps in exchange for high commissions.
With cases registered across Hyderabad, Cyberabad, Visakhapatnam, and Suryapet, the ED has begun tracing the financial transactions involved. The investigation aims to determine the extent of the celebrities' involvement and the financial implications of their endorsements. The ED suspects the endorsements may have been used to launder large sums of money, impacting thousands of unsuspecting users. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities plan to issue notices to all those named in the FIR.
