Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a money laundering case to look into the role of more than two dozen celebrities, including actors like Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj, apart from some social media influencers and YouTubers in Telangana as part of a money laundering probe against certain online betting platforms, official sources said on Thursday.
The crackdown comes after five FIRs were registered at Panjagutta, Miyapur, Cyberabad, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam police stations. Complainants alleged that celebrity endorsements directly influenced people’s gambling habits, leading to addiction and financial distress.
Among those under investigation are Tollywood actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, Manchu Lakshmi, and popular TV hosts Sreemukhi and Shyamala. YouTubers like Harsha Sai, Bayya Sunny Yadav, and Local Boi Nani have also been named in the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) filed by the ED.
The celebrities allegedly promoted platforms such as Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, and Lotus365 through paid advertisements, social media posts, and videos. The ED suspects large-scale money laundering through these promotions disguised as entertainment or charitable initiatives.
Complainants like Phanindra Sarma and Vinay Vangala stated that these promotions encouraged gambling addictions among followers. Another victim, Puli Kumar Reddy, claimed he lost over Rs 3 crore after being influenced by YouTube ads endorsing such apps.
Those named in the probe have denied any wrongdoing, asserting that they terminated promotional contracts over ethical concerns. However, the ED is likely to issue summons to the celebrities soon to record their statements as part of the ongoing investigation.
