Latest news with #RanaDaggubati
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
'No Witch-Hunting': Actor Prakash Raj On ED's Money Laundering Probe In Betting Case
Last Updated: Besides Raj, the ED had also summoned actors Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda and Lakshmi Manchu for questioning in the case Actor Prakash Raj on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Hyderabad in a money laundering case linked to illegal online betting and gambling by certain platforms. After his questioning, Raj said he told ED that there is no 'witch hunting". 'This was a case of money laundering of betting apps, and it was something I did in 2016. On moral grounds, I did not pursue it, and I gave them information that I did not receive any money because I did not want to make money from that. They have taken all the details and have finished the enquiry. Officers are doing their job, and as a citizen, I am supposed to cooperate and answer their questions. There is no witch-hunting or political motivation in this," he added. #WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: As he leaves from the ED Office, actor Prakash Raj says, 'This was a case of money laundering of betting apps, and it was something I did in 2016. On moral grounds, I did not pursue it, and I gave them information that I did not receive any money… — ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2025 The actor, mainly popular in Telugu, Kannada and other South Indian films, appeared before the officials of the probe agency at its zonal office in Hyderabad. Besides Raj, the ED had also summoned actors Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda and Lakshmi Manchu for questioning in the case. The agency asked Daggubati (40) to appear before the zonal office here on July 23, Raj (60) on July 30, Deverakonda (36) on August 6 and Lakshmi (47) on August 13. The actors had 'endorsed" online betting apps allegedly involved in generating 'illicit" funds, official sources had said. However, the ED gave a fresh date of August 11 to actor Daggubati after he failed to appear on July 23, seeking deferment of the summons. The ED had taken cognisance of as many as five state police FIRs to register its case against these actors and a number of other celebrities and social media influencers. These individuals are suspected to have 'endorsed" online betting apps like Junglee Rummy, JeetWin, Lotus365, etc, for celebrity or endorsement fee, ED sources had said. These platforms are alleged to have generated 'illicit" funds, through illegal betting and gambling, worth crores of rupees, the sources had said. Some of these 'well-known" persons, the sources said, have earlier stated that they did not know the exact functioning of the apps and products dished out by them and claimed that they did not associate themselves with these platforms for any wrongdoing or illegal activity like betting. (with inputs from ANI, PTI) view comments Location : Hyderabad, India, India First Published: July 30, 2025, 15:56 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Wanted' actor Prakash Raj appears before Enforcement Directorate in alleged betting app case
Actor Prakash Raj on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its Basheerbagh office in Hyderabad after receiving a summons related to a case involving the promotion of online betting games. Prakash Raj is known for his negative roles in films, including 'Wanted' and 'Singham' and has appeared in over 300 films in his career. Watch the video here: Earlier this year, the Telangana police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 celebrities and influencers, including popular figures like Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi, for allegedly promoting illegal betting and gambling apps through their social media platforms, as reported by ANI. What did the FIR say? The FIR was filed at the Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad following a petition by 32-year-old businessman PM Phanindra Sarma. The complaint, lodged on March 19 this year, highlights a disturbing trend of celebrities and influencers promoting illegal gambling apps that violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Sarma claims that during a conversation with youth in his community on March 16, he discovered many individuals had been influenced to invest their money in these gambling apps, which were heavily advertised by social media personalities. According to the complaint, these celebrities are allegedly accepting large sums of money to promote various betting platforms, which encourage users to gamble their hard-earned money. Sarma himself was on the verge of investing in one of these platforms but refrained after his family warned him about the potential financial dangers. The police report lists several celebrities and influencers who are accused of promoting illegal gambling apps, including Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagella, Siri Hanumanthu, Sreemukhi, Varshini Sounderajan and many others. The petition emphasises that these apps and platforms are causing widespread financial harm, particularly among lower and middle-class families who are being lured into the false promise of easy money. The apps often rely on celebrities to build credibility, leading vulnerable individuals to invest substantial amounts of money, only to face financial ruin. The Telangana police have charged the accused under multiple sections of the TS Gaming Act and the IT Act, including Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, which deals with cheating and identity theft. The FIR also includes sections that address the promotion of illegal betting activities, with the investigation now being handled by Officer G Ramesh Naidu. (With inputs from ANI)
The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Betting app case: Actor Prakash Raj appears before ED in Hyderabad
Actor Prakash Raj appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) in connection with its ongoing investigation into the alleged promotion of unauthorised online betting platforms. He arrived at the ED office in Basheerbagh of Hyderabad with his lawyer. Prakash Raj is among several celebrities summoned by the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Actor Rana Daggubati, who was directed to appear on July 23, has sought permission to depose on a later date. Vijay Deverakonda and Manchu Lakshmi have been asked to appear on 6 and 13 August respectively. The probe relates to alleged paid promotions for betting platforms. The ED suspects that such endorsements were disguised as entertainment or charitable content, while actually promoting unregulated gambling apps. The investigation stems from multiple FIRs across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and has so far named 29 individuals, including actors, YouTubers, and influencers. While several of them have denied any wrongdoing, the agency continues to examine whether these were isolated campaigns or part of a wider, coordinated push.
Hans India
24-07-2025
- Hans India
ED issues fresh summons, asks Rana Daggubati to appear on Aug 11
Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to actor Rana Daggubati in connection with its investigation into the alleged promotion of illegal online betting apps. Sources said that the film actor has been asked to appear on August 11, following a request for additional time. He was earlier directed to appear in person on July 23. The summons were issued after the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) earlier this month under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), naming 29 individuals, including actors, television personalities, YouTubers, and influencers. The case is based on five FIRs registered in Panjagutta, Miyapur, Cyberabad, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam, citing suspected violations of the Public Gambling Act, 1867. The probing agency was suspecting that the film and TV celebrities promoted betting platforms such as Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, and Lotus365, and received huge sums of money for endorsements. Those named in the ECIR include actors Praneetha and Nidhi Agarwal, as well as media personalities such as Ananya Nagella, Siri Hanumanthu, Sreemukhi, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, and Shoba Shetty. The ED is currently examining whether the endorsements formed a part of a coordinated strategy to funnel users to unauthorised betting platforms.
News18
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Tanushree Dutta Makes Shocking Allegations, Rana Daggubati Seeks New Date In Betting Apps Case
Tanushree Dutta alleges harassment by the "Bollywood mafia gang." Rana Daggubati requests a new date with ED in a betting apps case. Tanushree Dutta recently shocked everyone after she shared a disturbing video, alleging that she has been facing harassment inside her own home for years. In an exclusive interview with News18 India, the actress opened up about it for the first time. Just like Sushant Singh Rajput, there are attempts being made to kill me," Tanushree said, warning of a larger conspiracy involving what she describes as the 'Bollywood mafia gang." Actor Rana Daggubati has asked for a new date to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case about the promotion of illegal betting apps. He was supposed to show up on Wednesday, July 23, but told the agency he couldn't come because he was busy shooting for a film. After getting tax-free status in Madhya Pradesh, Anupam Kher's film Tanvi The Great has now also been made tax-free in Delhi. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta shared the news on social media and praised the film for its strong and meaningful message. Read full story here: Anupam Kher's Tanvi The Great Declared Tax-Free In Delhi Bigg Boss 19 is all set to shake things up this year. The show will premiere on JioCinema from 30 August, with episodes airing on TV 90 minutes later. According to a report in SCREEN, Salman Khan is expected to earn between ₹120–150 crore for hosting the first 15 weeks—around ₹8–10 crore each weekend. Read full story here: Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who is currently shooting for his film Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri in Nawalgarh, recently met Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. The CM shared a photo of their meeting on X (formerly Twitter). In the picture, Kartik is seen wearing a pink shirt and white pants. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
