In the complaint, filed on March 19, 2025, Sarma claims such promotion is harmful and alleges these gambling platforms are illegal and violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867.
Betting Apps Promotion: An FIR has been lodged against actors Rana Daggubati and Vijay Deverakonda in addition to other eminent personalities for allegedly promoting online gambling platforms. A businessman by the name of PM Phanindra Sarma filed this complaint in the Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad, alleging that these celebrities promoted illegal betting apps via their social media channels.
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In the complaint, filed on March 19, 2025, Sarma claims such promotion is harmful and alleges these gambling platforms are illegal and violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867.
Sarma says that on conversing with several young men of his community, he found many of them had succumbed to the gambling app promotion and invested money with a possibility of losing it all.
Who all are named in FIR?
Apart from Rana Daggubati and Vijay Deverakonda, others who have been named in the complaint include Prakash Raj, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, and Nidhi Agarwal. The FIR charges a total of 25 social influencers and public figures who are believed to have received monetary consideration in support of advertising illegal betting platforms. The complaint goes on to say that such promotions are adversely affecting more vulnerable sectors of society, mostly those from lower and middle-income backgrounds.
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Under which section actors have been booked?
The police stated that under the Telangana State Gaming Act, the accused conspired against those using their social media accounts to advertise gambling under the guise of influencers with various sections under the Information Technology Act, including Section 66(D), which deals with cheating and identity theft. In-charge G Ramesh Naidu is investigating the matter, while the police have assured action against those found guilty of exploiting the public in illegal gambling.
