Actor Prakash Raj appears before ED for questioning in betting apps case
Tollywood celebrities have been ordered to bring details of agreements and bank accounts connected with betting apps. ED sources said that summons will be issued to other actors named in the same case in later phases.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its crakdown in the betting apps case, calling is a scam. As part of the probe, the ED has issued notices to Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj and Manchulakshmi to appear before it for questioning. After the order, actor Prakash Raj appeared before the ED. The ED is investigating the case based on the FIR registered by the Telangana Police.
The agency has focused on allegations of money laundering and hawala transactions related to betting apps. The Telangana Police has registered cases against celebrities for promotions connected to a total of 36 betting apps. A case was also registered against Prakash Raj after he acted in a betting ad promotion. Prakash Raj appeared before the ED on Wednesday after being given notices 10 days ago.
ED officials have expedited the investigation into betting app promotion and money laundering case. The agency has also issued notices to prominent Tollywood actors to appear for questioning in connection with the alleged betting scam. The ED had ordered Rana Daggubati to appear for questioning on the 23rd of this month. It had issued notices to Prakash Raj to appear for questioning on the 30th of July and to Manchulakshmi on August 13.
Tollywood celebrities have been ordered to bring details of agreements and bank accounts connected with betting apps. ED sources said that summons will be issued to other actors named in the same case in later phases. A total of 29 actors, as well as content creators and social media influencers, are being investigated in this case. The ED is investigating the FIRs registered by the police in Punjagutta, Miyapur, Cyberabad and Visakhapatnam in connection with online betting.
Several people in Telangana have committed suicide after suffering losses due to betting apps. With the aggressive promotion of online betting apps, people were drawn to invest in them resulting in lost money. Following the hue and cry over the alleged scam, the Enforcement Directorate registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against film celebrities and YouTubers who were promoting the betting apps. The ECIR was filed after ED found that crores of rupees changed hands for betting apps promotion. The agency is also investigating the case from the angle of money laundering.