The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned popular South Indian actors—Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Lakshmi Manchu—for questioning in connection with an illegal betting app case.
The summons comes in the wake of an FIR filed by Cyberabad police against 29 celebrities allegedly linked to various gambling platforms.
According to officials, Daggubati and Raj were associated with the promotion of Junglee Rummy, while Deverakonda endorsed A23 and Manchu Yolo 247. The probe explores financial transactions and digital promotional campaigns that may have encouraged illegal gambling under the guise of gaming.
Daggubati is expected to appear on July 23, followed by Raj on July 30, Deverakonda on August 6, and Manchu on August 13. All four actors are expected to present legal clarifications regarding their involvement.
Responding to the allegations, Prakash Raj stated that he had endorsed a gaming app in 2016 but discontinued his association in 2017 after reassessing its nature. Similarly, Daggubati’s team has maintained that his endorsements were limited to legally permitted regions and skill-based platforms.
The case invokes serious legal provisions, including Sections 318(4), 112, and 49 of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita, the Telangana State Gaming Act, and the IT Act’s section on digital deception, underscoring the broader ramifications for celebrity endorsements in online gaming and betting ecosystems.
