A case has been registered against six Telugu film actors, including Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, and Vijay Deverakonda, along with 19 social media influencers, for allegedly promoting betting apps, the police said on Thursday. Actors Lakshmi Manchu, Praneetha, and Nidhi Agarwal were also named in the case, according to a police official at Miyapur Police Station. The complaint, filed by a businessman, accuses these celebrities and influencers of endorsing betting apps on social media through pop-up ads and other means. Based on the complaint, a case was registered under relevant sections of the BNS, Gaming Act, and IT Act on March 19. The police official further stated that they are planning to issue notices to those named in the FIR, and the investigation is ongoing.

The complainant explained that during a recent interaction with youths in his colony, he observed that many were discussing investments in betting, gambling, and casino apps, which they had been introduced to through celebrity and influencer promotions on social media. He admitted that he too was influenced by these promotions and was about to deposit money into one such platform. However, he refrained from doing so after his family cautioned him against it.

According to the FIR, the complainant encountered numerous instances of celebrities and influencers actively promoting what he described as “illegal” betting apps and websites, which require users to download them onto their mobile phones for gambling. He alleged that these influencers and celebrities are accepting large sums of money as commissions and remuneration for their endorsements. Furthermore, he claimed that these platforms target the general public, particularly individuals in financial distress, encouraging them to invest their hard-earned money into betting applications. Over time, this leads to addiction and severe financial difficulties, he asserted.