The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered cases against 29 celebrities, including actors Vijay Deverakonda, Prakash Raj, and Rana Daggubati, for their alleged involvement in a betting app scam. Other personalities named include Manchu Lakshmi, Niddhii Agarwal, Ananya Nagalla, and Srimukhi.
The FIRs cite several legal violations under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Telangana Gaming Act, and the IT Act, 2000. The charges include digital cheating, unlawful promotion of gambling platforms, and misleading the public through electronic means.
According to the complaint reported by CNN-News18, these betting apps handle large sums of money, resulting in heavy financial losses for many users, especially from middle and lower-income families. The apps encourage people to invest money, leading to serious financial problems and distress for many households.
The FIR points out that celebrities promoting these apps on social media play a key role in encouraging people to use them. It also claims these stars received payments to endorse these platforms.
Some celebrities have already been questioned by the ED in a related case involving the Mahadev app.
Reactions from Actors:
- Prakash Raj said he endorsed Junglee Rummy in 2016 but ended his contract within a year due to ethical concerns. He emphasized that he has not promoted any gambling platforms since then.
- Vijay Deverakonda defended his role as brand ambassador for A23, which promotes skill-based games like rummy. He added that the Supreme Court recognizes rummy as a game of skill, not chance.
- Rana Daggubati stated his association with the gaming platform ended in 2017 and was legally checked. He clarified that all his endorsements were in places where such games are legal.
