ED probes betting apps: 29 celebrities face legal action, Vijay Deverakonda, Prakash Raj among many others on investigation list!

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Miyapur police have come together to launch a massive investigation into their alleged involvement in the promotion of betting apps. As many as 29 Bollywood and South Indian celebrities and social media influencers are among the accused in the case. The list includes Rashmika Mandanna's love interest and actor Vijay Deverakonda, veteran actor Prakash Raj, actor Rana Daggubati, actress Nidhhi Agerwal, Sreemukhi, Manchu Lakshmi, Ananya Nagalla and many others.

The complaint was filed by Miyapur-based businessman P.M. Phanindra Sharma. According to his complaint, these celebrities and influencers allegedly promoted illegal betting apps like Duffet, 1XBET, Betway, etc. on various platforms including Instagram, Facebook, etc.

According to the complaint, these betting apps are luring middle and lower middle class people into gambling by offering them easy money. As a result, many families have suffered financial losses. A man from Visakhapatnam has complained that he suffered a loss of Rs 3.09 crore due to these apps.

A case has been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code, Telangana Gaming Act and IT Act and the ED and the police have already issued notices to the accused celebrities. Vijay Deverakonda's team has clarified that they have only promoted a legitimate skill-based gaming platform (A23). That too ended in 2023," he said. Similarly, Prakash Raj said that he had cancelled the advertisement given in 2016 in 2017. Rana Daggubati's team also made it clear that they only had an agreement with a legal company.

The case has brought to light the harmful influence of betting apps and shows how serious problems such unauthorized economic activities lead to in the society. The continuing serious investigation by the ED and the police leads to serious thinking about the impact of such advertisements on society.