The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has called popular actors Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda, and Prakash Raj for questioning.
The reason? Their names have come up in a case linked to the promotion of illegal betting apps, sources said.
According to reports, the ED has asked Rana Daggubati to appear on July 23, Prakash Raj on July 30, and Vijay Deverakonda on August 6. The agency wants to investigate whether these actors knowingly promoted betting apps that are not legal in India.
This issue started earlier this year in March when the Telangana Police registered a case against 25 celebrities and social media influencers, including these three actors. The case was filed at Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad after a complaint from PM Phanindra Sarma, a 32-year-old businessman.
In his complaint, Sarma said that several stars were openly promoting gambling and betting apps through their social media handles. He claimed these apps are dangerous because they lure people with the false hope of earning easy money.
Also Read: MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2025 cancelled, to return in 2026
According to him, these apps mostly target the lower and middle-income groups, who end up losing their hard-earned savings.
The complaint also mentioned that celebrities play a big role in building trust for these apps. When fans see their favorite stars supporting something, they naturally assume it is safe. But in this case, the complaint says, people have fallen into a trap that has led to financial losses and emotional distress.
Following this, actor Vijay Deverakonda had shared a clarification back in March. In a press statement, his team said that he had only endorsed skill-based games, not betting or gambling apps. The statement mentioned that Deverakonda signed a contract as a brand ambassador for a company that operates in areas where such skill-based games are legally allowed.
“This is to inform the public that Vijay Deverakonda entered into a contract with the company for the limited purpose of promoting skill-based games,” the statement said. It further added, “His endorsement was strictly for places where these games are legal.”
So far, neither Rana Daggubati nor Prakash Raj has made any public statement about the issue.
As of now, the ED is continuing its probe to check whether there was any violation of the Public Gambling Act of 1867 or other financial laws.
More details are expected to come out as the investigation moves forward.