"I took no money": Actor Prakash Raj after 5-hour ED grilling in online betting apps case
Hyderabad: Actor Prakash Raj appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, July 30, in connection with an ongoing investigation into illegal online betting apps. He was questioned for five hours by ED officials and left after the inquiry.
Speaking to the media after the session, Prakash Raj stated that the ED had summoned him as a citizen in relation to a money laundering case linked to the promotion of betting apps. He clarified that he was offered a promotional opportunity back in 2016 but chose not to pursue it on moral grounds.
He said, “I informed the officials that I had not received any money, as I had declined the offer. I have shared all the information I possess. The officers are doing their job, and as a responsible citizen, it was my duty to cooperate and respond to their questions. I will not promote betting apps from now on.” He confirmed that the ED had not summoned him again for further questioning.
Prakash Raj was one of several celebrities from the film and digital entertainment industry who were summoned by the ED as part of a larger investigation into illegal online gambling platforms. Earlier, the ED had summoned Tollywood actors Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi. According to ED sources, Rana Daggubati was asked to appear on July 23, Prakash Raj on July 30, Vijay Deverakonda on August 6, and Manchu Lakshmi on August 13.
The Enforcement Directorate had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against 29 actors, influencers, and digital content creators for allegedly promoting illegal betting platforms in violation of Indian gambling and money laundering laws. The case was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and was based on five FIRs filed at Punjagutta, Miyapur, Cyberabad, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam.
Among the names listed in the ECIR were actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal, and Pranitha Subhash. Television personalities Sreemukhi and Shyamala, along with digital influencers such as Harsha Sai, Bayya Sunny Yadav, and the team behind the 'Local Boi Nani' YouTube channel, were also under investigation.
The ED stated that these individuals had promoted platforms such as Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, Lotus365, and others. Authorities were examining financial transactions related to paid promotions, brand endorsements, and digital ad revenues, as the promotions were suspected to be linked to money laundering. The promotions were also believed to violate the Public Gambling Act, 1867.
Some celebrities had denied any wrongdoing, stating that they had terminated their contracts once they were made aware of legal or ethical concerns. However, multiple complaints were filed against them. One complainant, Puli Kumar Reddy, claimed he lost over ₹3 crore after investing in betting apps that were promoted through YouTube content. Other complainants, including Phanindra Sarma and Vinay Vangala, said that celebrity endorsements had led to increased public interest in online betting apps in their localities.
Several FIRs also alleged that these betting advertisements were disguised as charitable initiatives or entertainment content, which made it difficult for viewers to recognize them as gambling-related promotions.
The complete list of names in the ECIR included individuals from film, television, and social media. Apart from the previously mentioned actors and influencers, others named included Ananya Nagella, Siri Hanumanthu, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, Shoba Shetty, Amrutha Chowdary, Nayani Pavani, Neha Pathan, Pandu, Padhmavathi, Imran Khan, Vishnu Priya, Tasty Teja, Rithu Chowdhary, and Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha. Influencers Kiran Goud, Ajay, Sunny, and Sudheer were also included.
The case first came to light in March 2025 when Miyapur police registered an FIR following a petition by Phanindra Sarma, a resident of the area. He alleged that several celebrities had used platforms like Instagram and Facebook to promote betting apps and had misled audiences into investing money in gambling schemes.
The FIR specifically linked Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj to promotions for Jungleerummy.com, while Vijay Deverakonda was associated with A23. Manchu Lakshmi was linked with Yolo247.com, and Nidhi Agarwal with JeetWin.
Other associations included Pranitha Subhash with Fairplay.live, Ananya Nagella with Vlbook.co, and Siri Hanumanthu with Taj77. Television anchor Sreemukhi was linked with Vvbbok.co, while Varshini Sounderajan was associated with Dhanibook365 and Vasanthi Krishnan with Mama247.co.
Shoba Shetty was named in connection with Telugu365.in, and Amrutha Chowdary was said to have promoted Yes365. Nayani Pavani and Neha Pathan were linked to Vlbook.co and Vvbook.co, respectively. Actor Pandu was associated with Okwin, and Padhmavathi with Jai365.com.
Actor Imran Khan was reportedly involved in promoting Jet X and Parimatch, while Vishnu Priya was linked to Taj777book.com. Influencer Harsha Sai was also named in connection with Parimatch, and Bayya Sunny Yadav was found promoting multiple platforms.
Television personality Shyamala was associated with Andhra365, while influencers Tasty Teja, Rithu Chowdhary, and Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha were alleged to have promoted several gambling websites across various digital platforms.
The FIRs highlighted that many of these platforms targeted younger users and financially vulnerable individuals. The involvement of celebrities reportedly amplified their reach and credibility. Police registered cases under the Telangana Gaming Act, the Information Technology Act, and other relevant laws. The ED’s investigation remained ongoing.
