Cyberabad Police have registered a case against several Tollywood actors, including Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda, Prakash Raj, Manchu Lakshmi, and Nidhi Agarwal, in connection with the alleged promotion of illegal betting apps.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed at Miyapur Police Station against six actors and 19 social media influencers under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Telangana Gaming Act, and the Information Technology Act 2008. The complaint, lodged by Phanidra Sharma, claims that the promotion of these betting platforms is detrimental to individuals and society, fostering addictive behaviors that lead to financial distress.
The FIR names several social media influencers, including Ananya Nagella, Siri Hanumanthu, and Sreemukhi, among others. This incident marks the first time that an FIR has been filed against actors for their involvement in promoting illegal betting activities. In a related development, the Punjagutta Police in Hyderabad recently registered cases against 11 other social media influencers for similar offenses based on a complaint regarding the promotion of gambling activities via mobile apps and websites.
As part of the ongoing investigation, police have issued notices to those named in the FIR, with some individuals already appearing before the authorities. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) SM Vijay Kumar highlighted the significant financial losses suffered by youths in Telangana due to online betting, which have led to tragic outcomes, including suicides. Recent cases also include YouTubers being booked for promoting betting apps, indicating a growing crackdown on this issue by law enforcement.