Celebrity Betting Scandal: ED Books Top Stars in Money Laundering Probe

A major online betting scandal has rocked Telangana, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filing a money laundering case against 29 prominent personalities. Among those under investigation are popular actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, and Prakash Raj, alongside several social media influencers and YouTubers. The probe aims to uncover their alleged roles in illegal betting and gambling operations that have reportedly generated illicit funds worth crores of rupees.

The federal agency initiated its case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after reviewing at least five First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by state police. The list of celebrities booked in the ED case also includes Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, Ananya Nagalla, and TV host Srimukhi, in addition to various local social media personalities.

These individuals are suspected of endorsing online betting applications such as Junglee Rummy, JeetWin, and Lotus365. Sources indicate they allegedly received significant endorsement fees for promoting these platforms.

What's Next for the Accused?

Some of the accused celebrities have previously stated they were unaware of the precise operations of these apps and claimed no involvement in any illicit activities like betting. However, the ED is expected to record their statements in the coming days as part of its ongoing investigation. The agency is also actively gathering more FIRs and seeking out individuals who may have been defrauded by these betting platforms.

A comprehensive investigation is underway to determine the total "proceeds of crime" generated by these apps and the exact extent of the celebrities' involvement. The ED maintains that their guilt will be determined only after their statements and versions of events have been thoroughly recorded and examined.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named several high-profile individuals from the entertainment industry in its ongoing case.

The list includes renowned film actors, television personalities, and digital influencers:

1. Rana Daggubati

2. Prakash Raj

3. Vijay Deverakonda

4. Manchu Lakshmi

5. Pranitha Subhash

6. Nidhhi Agerwal

7. Ananya Nagalla

8. Siri Hanumanth

9. Sreemukhi

10. Varshini Sounderajan

11. Vasanthi Krishnan

12. Shobha Shetty

13. Amrutha Chowdhary

14. Nayani Pavani

15. Neha Pathan

16. Pandu

17. Padmavati

18. Imran Khan

19. Vishnu Priya

20. Harsha Sai

21. Bhaiyya Sunny Yadav

22. Shyamala

23. Tasty Teja

24. Reethu Chowdhary

25. Bandaru Seshayani Supreetha