ED Books Over 25 Tollywood Celebrities for Promoting Betting Apps

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has officially booked over 25 Tollywood celebrities after they allegedly promoted illegal online betting apps, sparking a major investigation across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This action follows multiple police complaints and FIRs that various individuals filed against actors, TV personalities, and social media influencers who endorsed platforms like Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, and Lotus365.

The ED suspects these celebrities may have used these endorsements to engage in money laundering and financial fraud under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

ED Targets 29 Celebrities in Online Gambling Probe

The ED has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against 29 public figures, including popular actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, and actresses such as Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, and Manchu Lakshmi. The list also includes YouTubers, influencers, and TV personalities like Harsha Sai, Sreemukhi, Shyamala, Varshini Sounderajan, and Bayya Sunny Yadav.

Two television hosts and many Instagram influencers also figure in the report. The agency believes these celebrities knowingly promoted illegal betting platforms while presenting them as skill-based games, thereby misleading the public and potentially enabling the circulation of unaccounted money.

Multiple Cases Across Telugu States

Authorities based the crackdown on five FIRs that police registered at various stations in Hyderabad, Cyberabad, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam. Before the ED intervened, several Telangana police departments had already begun scrutinizing many of these celebrities. A resident named Phanidra Sharma from Miyapur filed a key complaint, accusing the celebrities of encouraging risky and addictive gambling behavior through their promotions, which caused widespread financial distress in society.

Legal Sections and Clarifications

The ED invoked several legal provisions, including:

BNS Sections 318(4), 112 r/w 49

Sections 3, 3(A), 4 of the Telangana Gaming Act (2017)

Section 66D of the IT Act (2000 & 2008)

While Rana Daggubati and Vijay Deverakonda have stated that they promoted only “legal skill-based games,” Prakash Raj clarified that he ended his contract in 2017 after realizing the possible legal and moral implications.

Ongoing Investigation and Industry Impact

The ED is now tracing the money trail behind these endorsements to determine whether the celebrities laundered large sums through promotional deals. If the investigation proves this, it could turn into one of India’s biggest celebrity-linked digital gambling cases. The Telugu film and entertainment industry now remains on high alert, anticipating more names to emerge during the probe.

This case serves as a major wake-up call for influencers and celebrities who endorse brands without verifying their legality. The ED appears determined to expose the full extent of this betting app scam and hold those responsible accountable.

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