ED Registers Case Against Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati and Others for Promoting Betting Apps

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against several South Indian film actors and digital influencers for endorsing and promoting betting applications. The investigation names well-known actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rana Daggubati, along with Prakash Raj, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Manchu Lakshmi, among others.
The case has been filed under charges related to promoting online gambling, which is prohibited under the Public Gambling Act of 1867. The ED’s action is based on multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where the betting apps were reportedly promoted through digital campaigns and celebrity endorsements.
Altogether, 29 celebrities—including actors, influencers, and YouTubers—are under scrutiny. The ED suspects that their promotions played a role in misleading the public, especially vulnerable users from economically weaker sections. It is also suspected that these campaigns were used as a channel for large-scale money laundering.
The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been invoked against the accused for appearing in advertisements or social media campaigns promoting betting platforms. The list of individuals named in the case includes popular influencers such as Sreemukhi, Syamala, Varshini Sounderajan, Harsha Sai, Vasanthi Krishnan, Amrutha Chowdhary, Nayani Pavani, Shobha Shetty, Neha Pathan, Pandu, Padmavathi, and Bayya Sunny Yadav.
According to the ED, betting apps operated under the guise of gaming platforms but were used to promote gambling practices. The promotional activities led to financial losses for many users who were lured in by the credibility lent by celebrities. These users were allegedly unaware of the illegal nature of the apps.
The complaint that triggered the ED’s action was filed by a businessman who alleged that promotional campaigns by celebrities had contributed to misleading the public and causing economic harm. The investigation is ongoing, and more individuals may be questioned in connection with the case.
Authorities are now examining the flow of funds between the app promoters and the celebrities, including payments received for endorsements, to determine whether proceeds of crime were involved.