Illegal Betting Scam: Celebs Under ED Radar for Paid Promotions of Apps Like Parimatch & Lotus365
ED Books 29 Celebrities Including Actors, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against 29 individuals, including prominent actors, television hosts, social media influencers, and YouTubers, for their alleged involvement in promoting illegal betting applications.
This action falls under the ambit of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), as these promotions are suspected to be linked to financial transactions involving proceeds of crime.
The ED’s move comes in the wake of five separate First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged across various jurisdictions—Panjagutta, Miyapur, Cyberabad, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam.
These FIRs highlight potential violations of the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and point to a broader crackdown on the digital propagation of unlawful betting platforms through influential online personalities.
The case centers on paid endorsements for online platforms like Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, Lotus365
And several others that are suspected of being fronts for large-scale money laundering operations. According to the Enforcement Directorate, these applications were promoted under the guise of legal, skill-based games, while allegedly functioning as gambling platforms in violation of Indian laws.
The individuals under investigation reportedly received substantial financial compensation for promoting these apps, amplifying their reach and credibility through social media and entertainment platforms. The ED is now probing the money trail to uncover possible laundering of proceeds generated through illegal betting and gaming activities.
The ECIR names a total of 29 individuals, spanning film, television, and digital media, who allegedly played a role in promoting the illegal betting platforms. Among those under scrutiny are well-known actors such as Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, and Nidhi Agarwal.
The list also includes popular television and media personalities like Ananya Nagella, Siri Hanumanthu, Sreemukhi, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, Shoba Shetty, Amrutha Chowdary, Nayani Pavani, Neha Pathan, Pandu, Padhmavathi, Imran Khan, Vishnu Priya, and Shyamala.
Several digital creators and influencers, including Harsha Sai, Bayya Sunny Yadav, Tastyteja, Rithu Chowdhary, Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha,
Ajay, Sunny, Sudheer, and the YouTube channel ‘Local Boy Nani’, have also been implicated.
ED Books 29 Celebrities Including Actors, additionally, Kiran Goud and the management teams behind these betting applications have been named for their suspected involvement in orchestrating the promotional campaigns and handling illicit funds.
Some of the promotional content for these betting platforms was reportedly masked as entertainment or even social service initiatives, misleading viewers and drawing widespread public criticism.
This deceptive presentation not only amplified the reach of the apps but also blurred the line between genuine content and paid endorsements.
As a result, several individuals who were influenced by these promotions filed police complaints, claiming to have suffered significant financial losses. In one such case, a complainant reported losing over ₹3 crore after being enticed by YouTube advertisements featuring these celebrities and influencers.
These revelations have intensified the ongoing investigation and raised serious concerns about the ethical responsibilities of public figures endorsing high-risk platforms.
The individuals named in the case are likely to be summoned soon for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate. Several of them have already released public statements denying any involvement in illegal activities. They claim to have ended their endorsement deals immediately after becoming aware of the legal and ethical implications.