Actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj among others booked for 'promoting' betting apps
Hyderabad (PTI): A case was registered against six Telugu film actors, including Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverkonda and 19 social media influencers, for allegedly promoting betting apps, police said on Thursday.
Actors Lakshmi Manchu, Praneetha, and Nidhi Agarwal were also booked in the case, a police official at Miyapur Police Station said.
The complainant, a businessman, accused the celebrities and the influencers of promoting the betting apps on social media through pop-up ads among others.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under relevant sections of the BNS, Gaming Act and IT Act on March 19, the official said.
The police official further said they were planning to issue notices to those named in the FIR. Further investigation is on.
According to the complainant, while he was interacting with youths in his colony recently, most of them were discussing investing money in betting, gambling and casino apps which are being promoted by celebrities and influencers on social media.
He was even influenced by such betting applications, and was about to deposit in one such betting/gambling/casino website, but due to his family’s word of caution, he did not do so, the complainant said.
The FIR said the complainant, while using his social media applications, came across several celebrities and influencers who are actively promoting several of the “illegal” betting apps, websites and other platforms that have to be downloaded on mobile phones and used for betting and gambling.
The complainant alleged the influencers and celebrities who are promoting these apps and websites are doing so by accepting huge sums of money as commission, and remuneration. These platforms are encouraging public, especially people, who are in dire need of money, to invest their hard earned and family money into those apps/websites and slowly get addicted to them, leading to financial distress, he claimed.
The complainant named the celebrities and influencers who he alleged were promoting the "illegal" betting, gambling and casino applications/websites.
These platforms are actively promoting their apps/websites through social media advertisements with the help of celebrities and influencers, thereby reaching the target audience automatically without even the users actually searching for it, he said.
Thousands of lakhs of rupees are involved in these illegal platforms, he alleged and requested the police to take necessary action on the management of these platforms as well as on the individuals who were illegally promoting these platforms.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
