Promoting betting apps; case registered against 25 celebrities including film stars and influencers

HYDERABAD: Telangana Police have registered a case against 25 celebrities for promoting illegal betting apps. The case has been filed against several prominent figures, including Prakash Raj, Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi, based on a complaint lodged by businessman Phanindra Sharma.

Along with film stars, several influencers are also listed in the case. The names include Praneetha, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagalla, Siri Hanumanthu, Sreemukhi, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, Shobha Shetty, Amrutha Chowdhury, Nayani Pavani, Neha Pathan, Pandu, Padmavathi, Imran Khan, Vishnu Priya, Harsha Sai, Sunny Yadav, Shyamala, Tasty Teja, and Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha.

The complaint states that these illegal betting apps are being promoted on social media with the help of celebrities and influencers. These apps are allegedly involved in massive financial fraud worth millions and are pushing middle-class and economically weaker families into distress.

The FIR mentions that many people are losing their hard-earned money by using these apps. The complainant also shared that he once attempted to invest in one such website but withdrew after his family warned him. The complaint further alleges that many celebrities and influencers are accepting huge amounts as remuneration to promote these apps. The case has been registered under charges of cheating and relevant sections of the IT Act.