As per the FIR, the illegal betting platforms promote their apps and websites through advertisements on social media made by celebrities and influencers.
Telangana Police have filed an FIR against 25 prominent actors such as Vijay Devarakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj and 22 others for allegedly promoting illegal betting apps. As per reports, the FIR was filed based on a complaint from businessman Phanindra Sharma.
As per the FIR, the illegal betting platforms promote their apps and websites through advertisements on social media made by celebrities and influencers.
The FIR has been filed against the following actors -
Rana Daggubati
Prakash Raj
Vijay Devarakonda
Manchu Lakshmi
Praneetha
Nidhi Agarwal
Ananya Nagalla
Siri Hanumanthu
Sreemukhi
Varshini Sounderajan
Vasanthi Krishnan
Shoba Shetty
Amrutha Chowdary
Nayani Pavani
Neha Pathan
Pandu
Padhmavathi
Imran Khan
Vishnu Priya
Harsha Sai
Sunny Yadav
Shyamala
Tasty Teja
Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha
"Thousands of lakhs of rupees are involved in these illegal platforms and it is also leading many families into distress, especially that of middle-class and lower middle-class," the FIR said.
"These platforms are encouraging public, especially people that are in dire need of money, to invest their hard-earned and family money into those apps/websites and slowly get addicted to them, leading to total financial collapse," the FIR added further.
Police filed the FIR under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318(4) [cheating], and 112 (petty organised crime), read with 49 (abetment); Telangana State Gaming Act (TSGA) sections 3, 3(A) and 4 (common gaming house); and Information Technology (IT) Act Section 66(D) (cheating by personation using a computer resource).