The Enforcement Directorate’s ongoing investigation into the promotion of online betting platforms is now drawing some of the biggest names in Telugu cinema. The probe, triggered by a Cyberabad police FIR naming 29 celebrities, is examining whether actors and influencers knowingly endorsed illegal betting apps to their large audiences.
On July 30, Prakash Raj was questioned over his past association with Junglee Rummy, which he says he ended in 2017. Others named in the FIR include Rana Daggubati, Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagalla and Srimukhi. Rana and Manchu Lakshmi are due to appear on August 13. The ED is relying on financial trails and digital evidence to determine possible violations under multiple laws, including provisions of the Bharat Nyay Sanhita, the Telangana State Gaming Act and the IT Act.
On August 6, Vijay Deverakonda appeared before the ED in Hyderabad. He later told the media that his summons was connected to his endorsement of A23, a platform he insists is a legal online gaming app and not a betting service. According to him, betting and gaming are distinct under Indian law, with gaming apps operating under GST, tax compliance, and official registration.
Vijay said A23 does not operate in Telangana and that he has only associated with platforms that are permitted in several states. He also stated that he had provided the ED with complete documentation — including contracts, payment records, and bank statements, to show the transaction was legal.
The issue cuts deeper than individual endorsements. The outcome of the ED’s probe could set a precedent for how online gaming companies operate in India and how celebrity partnerships are regulated. While gaming apps remain legal in many states, the blurred line between skill-based gaming and betting continues to raise questions.
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