In a surprising development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated an investigation into a high-profile betting app scam, implicating several prominent personalities from the Tollywood and television industry. The probe follows a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Cyberabad police in March 2024.
The accused include Vijay Deverakonda, popular for his role in Arjun Reddy, Prakash Raj, remembered for his character Jaykant Shikre from Singham, Rana Daggubati, Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagalla, and anchor Srimukhi. They are alleged to have endorsed and promoted betting apps such as A23, JeetWin, FairPlay, and Junglee, which are at the heart of the scam.
The Cyberabad police initiated the case under the provisions of Section 318(4) & 112 of the Bharat Nyay Sanhita and Section 4 of an unspecified law. The allegations against the betting apps include fraudulent promotion through paid campaigns, online ads, and pop-ups, which were endorsed by these celebrities.
The ED is currently examining transactions related to the case under Section 66-D of the IT Act, which pertains to offences committed through computer resources. This section deals with cheating by personation, impersonation, and forgery involving computer sources or communication device.
As this story unfolds, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the intricacies of the scam and the role of each individual involved. Stay tuned for further updates as the investigation progresses.
