Actor Vijay Deverakonda appears before ED officials in online betting linked PMLA case

    Hyderabad, Aug 6 (PTI) Actor Vijay Deverakonda on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here as part of an investigation into a money laundering case linked to illegal online betting and gambling by certain platforms.
    The 'Liger' actor appeared before the officials of the central agency for questioning at its zonal office.
    Later, speaking to reporters, Deverakonda said that the agency sought some clarifications from him pertaining to gaming apps.
    "I am doing an endorsement for a gaming app. There is no connection between gaming apps and betting apps. Gaming apps are completely legal and recognised by the government, licensed as a business. They are fully registered and recognised by the Supreme Court and various state governments," he said.
    He referred to some of the registered gaming apps and said they are sponsors for the Indian cricket team, Indian Olympics team, IPL, Kabaddi and Volleyball Leagues because these are completely legal entities. So, first, gaming apps should be separated from the illegal betting apps, he said.
    "Since my name cropped up, they (ED) asked for some clarifications--account and transaction details...what is that company," he said.
    Deverakonda further said they (ED) sought details, as per their diligence, contracts, app details and financial details, adding "they are very satisfied".
    He said the Supreme Court and state governments are the bodies to decide what is right and what is wrong.
    Actor Prakash Raj earlier appeared before the ED on July 30 in connection with the case. Besides Raj, the ED had also summoned actors Rana Daggubati, Deverakonda and Lakshmi Manchu for questioning in the case.
    The actors had "endorsed" online betting apps allegedly involved in generating "illicit" funds, according to official sources.
    Deverakonda, the Hyderabad-born actor, debuted with the 2011 Telugu film 'Nuvvila' and shot to fame with the 2017 blockbuster 'Arjun Reddy'.
    During their appearance, the agency is expected to record the statements of the actors under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
    The ED had taken cognisance of as many as five state police FIRs to register its case against these actors and a number of other celebrities and social media influencers.
    These individuals are suspected to have "endorsed" online betting apps for celebrity or endorsement fee, ED sources said.
    These platforms are alleged to have generated "illicit" funds through illegal betting and gambling, worth crores of rupees, they said.
    Some of these "well-known" persons, the sources said, have earlier stated that they did not know the exact functioning of the apps and products dished out by them and claimed that they did not associate themselves with these platforms for any wrongdoing or illegal activity like betting.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)