Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against 29 actors, YouTubers, and influencers from the Telugu-speaking states for allegedly endorsing illegal betting platforms, in violation of the Public Gambling Act, 1867.
The central agency filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on five FIRs registered across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Prominent names booked by the ED include film actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, Manchu Lakshmi, and Ananya Nagella. Several television and social media personalities also figure in the list, such as Sreemukhi, Shyamala, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, Shoba Shetty, Amrutha Chowdary, Nayani Pavani, Neha Pathan, Pandu, Padhmavathi, Harsha Sai, and Bayya Sunny Yadav.
Most of these individuals were earlier named in cases filed by Hyderabad and Cyberabad police, with FIRs lodged at police stations in Panjagutta, Miyapur, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam.
The ED suspects these celebrities promoted betting platforms such as Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, and Lotus365, potentially facilitating large-scale money laundering through paid digital promotions.
Legal action under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 318(4) and 112 read with 49; the Telangana Gaming Act sections 3, 3(A), and 4; and the Information Technology Act sections 66D (2000 and 2008) has been initiated.
Earlier in March, Cyberabad Police booked Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, and others over similar allegations. The actors responded, asserting that they promoted only legally permitted skill-based platforms. Prakash Raj clarified that he had opted not to renew a contract in 2017 after realising the ethical concerns surrounding the promotion.
The complaint that triggered these cases was filed by Phanidra Sharma, a resident of Miyapur, who alleged that celebrity promotion of betting apps and websites had negatively impacted individuals and society, encouraging addictive and risky behaviour that leads to financial distress.
(inputs from IANS)