The Enforcement Directorate on Monday summoned actors Prakash Raj, Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda and Lakshmi Manchu in connection with an investigation into promotion of illegal online betting apps.
The ED has asked Rana Daggubati to appear on July 23 while Prakash Raj was summoned for questioning on July 30, Vijay Deverakonda on August 6 and Lakshmi Manchu on August 13. The ED will record their statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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The investigation began following a complaint lodged by Miyapur resident P.M. Phanindra Sarma in March. Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj reportedly endorsed JungleeRummy while Vijay Deverakonda backed A23.
The central agency has taken cognisance of five state police FIRs to file case against these actors as well as other film stars, TV hosts and online influencers.
Other celebrities named in the case include Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, Ananya Nagalla, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, Siri Hanumanth, Sreemukhi, Shobha Shetty, Reethu Chowdhary, Nayani Pavani, Padmavati, Imran Khan, Neha Pathan, Vishnu Priya, Bhaiyya Sunny Yadav, Harsha Sai, Tasty Teja, Amrutha Chowdhary and Bandaru Seshayani Supreetha.
These public figures allegedly promoted apps like Junglee Rummy, JeetWin and Lotus365 often without checking whether they are legal and accepted endorsement fees for the promotion. Some of these apps allegedly amassed crores of rupees through illegal betting and gambling. The charges against the platforms include the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Earlier, some of these actors and influencers had claimed that they were unaware of the how these betting platforms and their products worked, adding that they did not associate themselves with these apps for illegal activities.