Latest news with #VijayDevarakonda
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
ED grills Manchu Lakshmi in betting app case
1 2 Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) grilled Tollywood actor Manchu Lakshmi for three hours on Wednesday in connection with the illegal betting app case. Sources said Manchu Lakshmi received small amounts of money from the betting app. Manchu Lakshmi reportedly snapped at some mediapersons after they crowded around her, trying to take pictures as she alighted from her car and tried to make her way inside the ED office in Basheerbagh. The ED summons are part of an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into ad campaigns promoting betting apps. So far, the agency has summoned 29 individuals, including actors, YouTubers and social media influencers. Actors Vijay Devarakonda, Daggubati Rana and Prakash Raj have already appeared. Other actors Nidhi Agarwal and others are yet to be summoned. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Gold Rates Today in Hyderabad | Silver Rates Today in Hyderabad Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Actor Rana Daggubati Appears Before Probe Agency In Betting App Case With 5 Years' Bank Details
Hyderabad: Armed with a blue file that held bank statements for five years, actor Rana Daggubati appeared before the Enforcement Directorate's Hyderabad office in connection with the alleged online betting games promotion case Monday. The questioning at the Basheerbagh office lasted for nearly five hours. Soon after, the actor left the probe agency office, choosing not to make a statement or take any questions from the media. The actor, wearing dark glasses, said nothing as the car doors closed. Earlier, the probe agency, which investigates financial crimes, had issued a notice to the actor to appear before it on July 23. The 40-year-old actor, due to prior commitments of a shooting schedule at Tamil Nadu's Pollachi, had sought more time to appear before the Hyderabad Zonal ED office. Earlier this year, the Telangana police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 29 celebrities and influencers, including popular figures like Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi for allegedly promoting illegal betting and gambling apps through their social media platforms. The complaint, filed on March 19, alleges a disturbing trend of celebrities and influencers promoting illegal gambling apps that violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Sources close to Rana Daggubati had told NDTV that a legal team had vetted the endorsement contract before he signed it. He also said Rana had only promoted skill-based games that the Supreme Court has said are legal, that too in regions where it is allowed, and his association had ended in 2017. Actor Vijay Devarakonda who appeared last week before the ED also sought to make the distinction between legal gaming apps and illegal betting apps, pointing out that the Indian cricket team, women's cricket, volleyball, kabaddi are all promoted by gaming apps that are legal, have a licence to operate, even pay GST. Complainant PM Phanindra Sarma, a 32-year-old businessman, had claimed that celebrities are allegedly accepting large sums of money to promote various betting platforms, which encourage users to gamble their hard-earned money. The petition emphasised 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, claims the petitioner. The central agency filed its Enforcement Case Information Record (ECIRs) based on the FIRs and is looking at violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, in terms of tax violation, etc in sponsorship and promotion deals, revenue earned through digital advertising etc. Rana Daggubati is known for his roles in the movies like 'Baahubali' ', Baahubali 2', and 'Vettaiyan'.
New Indian Express
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Madras High Court directs TN govt to provide protection for Vijay Devarakonda's 'Kingdom' amid protests
CHENNAI: Madras High Court on Thursday directed the state government to provide security for theatres screening Vijay Devarakonda movie 'Kingdom'. This move comes after the Telugu movie faced protests from faced protests in Madurai and Trichy from Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NTK) cadres for its alleged portrayal of Sri Lankan Tamils in a poor light. Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy issued the directive stating that the movie makers have the right to express their views and none can disrupt screening of a movie, which is duly certified by the Censor Board, nor threaten the theatre owners against screening. The court further added that those who have different views can express them through protests but should obtain permission from the Police and hold the stir only at the designated venues. It would be open for them to protest and propagate their own view against the movie's content. 'That liberty is always available to express any contrary view in a democracy, and therefore, the right of the respondent is not curtailed.' 'In a democracy, the creators of a movie have every right to express their views and in this case, it is a fiction, therefore, anything expressed in any movie may be abhorrent and unpalatable to a particular section of the society. Even then, when the censor board cleared the movie for being exhibited in theatre, no third party can prevent its exhibition or threaten the theatre owners,' said Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy on Thursday while disposing of a petition filed by SSI Productions, the producers of 'Kingdom', seeking protection to the theatres. The judge recollected the orders passed by a division bench of Madras High Court in the Perumal Murugan case stating it is better to put the book down or refrain from watching the movie. Justice Chakravarthy recorded the undertaking given by the government advocate on behalf of the police that they will give due protection to the theatres. He further stated the Police can take appropriate action, if the screening of the movie is disrupted or any theatre owners are threatened against exhibiting the movie by any person.
New Indian Express
07-08-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Vijay Devarakonda grilled by ED over A23 app; says it is legal gaming platform
HYDERABAD: Actor Vijay Devarakonda, after being questioned for around four hours at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Basheerbagh, defended his promotion of the A23 application, stating it is a registered company. He clarified that there is a clear distinction between gaming and betting applications. Gaming apps, he said, are legal, recognised by the government, and licensed as businesses, while betting apps fall under a different category. Citing examples, he noted that a Google search for top gaming apps shows platforms such as Dream11, My11 Circle, MPL, and A23 — all registered entities that sponsor various Indian sports teams, including cricket, the Olympics, women's cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL), and kabaddi and volleyball teams. Vijay Devarakonda added that ED officials were seeking clarifications from him, and he provided them with his bank transactions and account details. He also observed that officials appeared unsure why his name had surfaced in the investigation. Earlier, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against 29 individuals, including actors and influencers. Recently, officials also questioned Prakash Raj.
The Hindu
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Vijay Devarakonda appears for questioning before ED in betting apps case
Actor Vijay Devarakonda appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday (August 6) as part of its ongoing probe into the alleged promotion of unauthorised online betting platforms. He arrived at the ED office in Basheerbagh, Hyderabad. Mr. Deverakonda is one of the 29 individuals summoned by the agency under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sources in the ED stated that his statements would be verified against available material and submissions from others who had been previously examined in the case. The case pertains to promotional content allegedly masking unregulated gambling apps as entertainment or charity-related initiatives. The ED believes that some celebrities and influencers were roped in for paid campaigns that indirectly endorsed betting operations, bypassing regulatory norms. Actor Prakash Raj was the first to appear before the ED, on July 30. Speaking to the media after his questioning, Mr. Prakash Raj claimed the matter dated back to 2016 and maintained he had not accepted any money. 'Officers are doing their job, and as a citizen, I'm supposed to cooperate,' he said, adding that there was no political angle to the summons. While some summoned celebrities have cooperated, others have sought time. Actor Rana Daggubati, originally scheduled to appear on July 23, has asked for a reschedule. Manchu Lakshmi has been directed to appear on August 13. The investigation is based on multiple FIRs filed across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and covers a range of individuals, including actors, YouTubers, and social media personalities. The ED is now attempting to determine whether the promotions were isolated or part of a wider, coordinated operation.
