Actor Prakash Raj appears before ED in alleged betting app case

July 30, 2025

Hyderabad (Telangana): Actor Prakash Raj appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday in connection with an ongoing case related to the promotion of illegal online betting platforms. He stopped briefly to pose for cameras as he entered the ED office at Basheerbagh in Hyderabad.

Earlier this year, Telangana police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 celebrities and influencers, including well-known personalities such as Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, and Prakash Raj, accusing them of promoting illegal gambling and betting apps through social media.

The FIR was filed at Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad following a complaint by 32-year-old businessman PM Phanindra Sarma. The complaint, lodged on March 19, highlights concerns over celebrities endorsing illegal betting platforms, which violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Sarma claimed that during a conversation with youth in his community, he found many influenced to invest in these gambling apps, heavily advertised by social media influencers.

The complaint alleges that these celebrities are accepting large sums of money to promote betting platforms, encouraging people to gamble their savings. Sarma himself was tempted to invest but decided against it after his family warned him about potential financial risks.

The police report names several celebrities and social influencers—including Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagella, Sreemukhi, and Varshini Sounderajan—as accused of promoting illegal gambling apps. The petition highlights the widespread financial harm caused by these platforms, especially among lower and middle-income groups who are lured with promises of easy money.

These apps often rely on celebrity endorsements to build trust, leading vulnerable individuals to invest significant amounts, often resulting in financial loss. The Telangana police have charged the accused under various sections of the TS Gaming Act and the IT Act, including Section 66(D) of the IT Act, which pertains to cheating and identity theft. The investigation is currently being overseen by Officer G Ramesh Naidu.

K Kranthi Kumar, Inspector of Police at Miyapur, stated, “This investigation demonstrates our dedication to protecting the public from harmful gambling and betting platforms that prey on individuals for profit.”

Prakash Raj is renowned for his roles in films like ‘Wanted’ and ‘Singham’ and has acted in over 300 movies throughout his career.