Hyderabad (National Times): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against 29 celebrities, including prominent film actors, television personalities, and YouTubers, for alleged involvement in promoting or associating with illegal online betting platforms in Telangana.
According to official sources, the ED has taken cognisance of five FIRs registered by state police to initiate the probe. The accused are suspected of receiving payments from betting platforms that generated illicit funds worth crores of rupees, allegedly laundered through endorsement deals, social media promotions, and influencer partnerships.
High-Profile Names Involved
Among those named in the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) are Tollywood actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha Subhash, and Nidhi Agarwal. Popular TV and digital figures such as Sreemukhi, Varshini Sounderajan, Shyamala, Siri Hanumanthu, Vasanthi Krishnan, Neha Pathan, Shoba Shetty, Amrutha Chowdary, and Nayani Pavani have also been listed.
Notably, top digital creators including Harsha Sai, Bayya Sunny Yadav, Tasty Teja, Rithu Chowdhary, Sudheer, and the YouTube channel ‘Local Boy Nani’ are also part of the case.
The ED is also probing the financial links and digital trails of Kiran Goud and the backend management teams of the suspected betting platforms.
Celebrities Deny Wrongdoing
Many of the individuals named in the case have issued statements on social media, asserting that they had no knowledge of the illegal nature of the betting platforms they promoted and that they withdrew from endorsement contracts as soon as ethical or legal concerns emerged.
Actor Prakash Raj called the allegations “baseless” and said he would “fully cooperate with authorities.” Others like Vijay Deverakonda and Sreemukhi have urged fans to wait for the full facts to emerge.
What’s Next?
Sources say the ED will soon begin summoning the individuals named in the case for formal questioning. The agency is currently analysing payment records, digital contracts, and promotional materials to determine the extent of each individual’s involvement and possible financial gain.
This investigation is part of a larger crackdown on online gambling and illegal betting, which has seen a surge in India’s digital ecosystem, often fronted by celebrities and influencers to lure unsuspecting users.
The ED has reiterated that anyone found knowingly promoting or benefiting from criminal proceeds will be held accountable under India’s anti-money laundering laws.
