Six popular Telugu actors, including Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj, have been booked for allegedly promoting illegal betting apps. Nineteen social media influencers have also been named in the case, filed by Hyderabad police.
A businessman filed the complaint, accusing the celebrities of endorsing these apps through social media ads. He claimed the promotions influence people, especially youngsters, to invest in gambling platforms.
The police registered a case under the BNS, Gaming Act, and IT Act on March 19. They plan to issue notices to those mentioned in the FIR and begin further investigation.
The complainant said he almost invested in a betting app but refrained due to family advice. He noticed that many young people in his colony were discussing gambling apps promoted by stars.
The FIR states that celebrities and influencers accept large payments to promote gaming platforms. This, in turn, encourages people, especially those struggling financially, to gamble and face potential monetary losses.
The businessman urged the police to take action against both the platforms and their promoters. Authorities are expected to tighten the noose on such illegal endorsements soon.