Betting App Probe: ED Summons Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj for Questioning

Quick Summary

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned multiple film and television personalities as part of an investigation into their alleged promotion of illegal online betting platforms.
• Actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi have been directed to appear on different dates between July 23 and August 13.
• The summons are linked to a recent Enforcement Case Facts Report (ECIR) filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which names 29 individuals including actors, TV hosts, YouTubers, and influencers.
• This probe stems from five FIRs lodged in cities such as Panjagutta, Miyapur, Hyderabad Cyberabad area, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam for suspected violations of the Public Gambling Act.
• Celebrities allegedly promoted betting platforms like Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, and Lotus365; large sums of money were reportedly funneled through these promotions.
• The ED suspects that some endorsements were disguised as entertainment or charity but aimed to covertly market unauthorized gambling services.
• One complainant reported losing over ₹3 crore after acting on a YouTube endorsement linked to these platforms.
• Some celebrities claim they ended contracts once they became aware of legal ambiguities related to the betting sites.
• More summons are expected as investigations continue.

Image Caption: Actors Vijay Deverakonda (pictured), Rana Daggubati among those summoned by ED.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The ED’s ongoing investigation into celebrity endorsements highlights recurring concerns about unregulated online marketing practices in India’s digital ecosystem. Allegations that prominent figures may have indirectly facilitated gambling activities through promotional content point toward serious gaps in consumer protections against financial exploitation. While several personalities deny involvement or stress contractual ignorance regarding legal loopholes associated with these platforms’ operations-a stance possibly valid within certain regulatory grey areas-the case still raises questions about accountability in influencer marketing.Moreover,this incident amplifies calls for tightening oversight within both online gaming sectors and celebrity brand collaborations under existing laws such as PMLA or newer data-driven advertising norms. If proven true that either negligence or lax oversight allowed unauthorised promoters access indirectly via big influencers,the reputation medium longer influence space credibility worsed without reforms-backfuture media integrity vital .

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