The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against 29 individuals, including film actors, television personalities, social media influencers, and YouTubers, for allegedly promoting illegal online betting applications in violation of the Public Gambling Act, 1867. The probe has been initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on five FIRs registered in Panjagutta, Miyapur, Cyberabad, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam.
The case pertains to paid promotions of online platforms such as Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, Lotus365, and others, which the agency suspects were engaged in large-scale money laundering operations. Many of these platforms reportedly posed as skill-based gaming apps but allegedly facilitated illegal gambling activities.
Among those named in the ECIR are actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, and Nidhi Agarwal. Television and media figures such as Ananya Nagella, Siri Hanumanthu, Sreemukhi, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, Shoba Shetty, Amrutha Chowdary, Nayani Pavani, Neha Pathan, Pandu, Padhmavathi, Imran Khan, Vishnu Priya, and Shyamala have also been listed. In addition, digital creators including Harsha Sai, Bayya Sunny Yadav, Tastyteja, Rithu Chowdhary, Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha, Ajay, Sunny, Sudheer, and the YouTube channel ‘Local Boy Nani’ are named, along with Kiran Goud and the management teams of the implicated betting platforms.
According to investigators, the individuals allegedly received substantial financial compensation for endorsing these apps. Some promotions were reportedly masked as entertainment or social service initiatives, prompting backlash and formal complaints. One complainant alleged a loss exceeding ₹3 crore after acting on YouTube advertisements featuring some of the named personalities.
Following mounting concerns, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy recently announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to tackle the growing problem of online betting, including digital rummy platforms. Referring to the widespread impact of such apps, senior police officials have likened their operations to “organised mafia”.
The ED is expected to summon the individuals named in the ECIR for questioning in the coming days. Several of the celebrities have issued public statements denying wrongdoing, claiming they ended partnerships with the platforms once legal and ethical concerns were brought to their attention.
(With inputs from The Hindu)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.