Now Reading: Nidhhi Agerwal tells ED she won’t promote betting apps again
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Nidhhi Agerwal tells ED she won’t promote betting apps again
Tollywood actor Nidhhi Agerwal told the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday that she was unaware of the legal consequences of endorsing online betting platforms and would not promote such apps again. She recorded her statement during nearly four hours of questioning at the ED's Hyderabad office as part of a money laundering probe linked to the online betting ecosystem.
Agerwal had promoted betting applications including Jeetwin and Fairplay in 2024. She told investigators she regretted the endorsements and would not undertake similar promotions in the future. The ED probe stems from police cases, including an FIR by Miyapur police and cases handled by the Crime Investigation Department, related to advertisements for online betting platforms.
The actor was summoned to explain her role in promoting the platforms. The ED's investigation into the online betting network continues.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The case marks a growing legal crackdown on celebrity endorsements of illegal betting platforms, which function as fronts for money laundering and operate outside India's strict gambling laws. Under the Public Gambling Act of 1867 and the IT Act, endorsers can be held liable if they knowingly promote illegal services. Several other Tollywood and Bollywood actors have been summoned by the ED over similar promotions, but prosecution has been rare unless financial links are proven. Agerwal's admission may still land her in legal trouble if the ED finds she received payments from the platforms. The next step will be the ED’s decision on whether to file a prosecution complaint, which could take months, and the outcome of the broader probe into the betting network's financial trail.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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