Latest news with #A23
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Lakshmi Manchu snaps at reporters, tells them to behave as she appears before ED in betting app case
Actor Lakshmi Manchu appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday in Hyderabad in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged promotion of betting apps. The actor was summoned after her name surfaced in relation to a digital platform under scrutiny for its links to online betting. Lakshmi Manchu appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Hyderabad. Lakshmi Manchu arrives before ED In a video that was shared by news agency ANI on their X account, Lakshmi was seen getting out of her car to enter the ED office. However, as soon as she stepped out, several photographers surrounded her for pictures and started questioning her. Lakshmi seemed irked by the proximity of the reporters, and even as someone from the team told them to stay at a distance, she snapped at them and said, 'Behave yourselves!' Other actors under the scanner In July, the agency issued summons to four actors—Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, and Lakshmi Manchu—asking them to appear on different dates at the agency's zonal office in Hyderabad for questioning in the case. During their appearance, the agency is expected to record the statements of the actors under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 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 for a celebrity or endorsement fee, ED sources said. These platforms are alleged to have generated illicit funds through illegal betting and gambling, worth crores of rupees, they said. Prakash Raj appeared before the ED in Hyderabad on 30 July, while Rana visited on August 1. Vijay appeared before the ED on August 6 and later clarified his stance to the press. He emphasised that he only promoted A23, a legal gaming app, not a betting platform. Lakshmi Manchu was last seen in the reality show The Traitors, hosted by Karan Johar. (with inputs from PTI)
BBC News
10-08-2025
- BBC News
Man arrested after Redhill crash involving three cars and lorry
Police have appealed for witnesses after a woman, in her 80s, was taken to hospital with "life-threatening injuries" after a crash involving three cars and a lorry in were called to the A23 Horley Road, where it meets Earlswood Road, at about 08:30 BST on Saturday, said Surrey force said the injured woman had been a passenger in one of the cars and six other people were also hurt and taken to hospital.A 25-year-old man, from East Grinstead in West Sussex, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by careless driving. Officers have appealed for witnesses and anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to get in touch.
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.
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Actor Vijay Deverakonda appears before Enforcement Directorate sleuths, claims he promoted gaming platform, not betting app
Hyderabad: Actor Vijay Deverakonda on Wednesday claimed that the app (application) he endorsed is not a betting one, but a gaming app, which is a legal and skill-based platform. Speaking to the media after appearing before Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in connection with the ongoing investigation into the illegal betting app case, Vijay Deverakonda said: 'I endorsed a gaming app, A23. There is no link with the betting app. Gaming apps are completely legal and recognised by govt agencies and are licensed. These entities pay GST and TDS.' ED officials, who found that he received Rs 4 crore from the apps, questioned him about the remuneration he received for promoting the platform. The questioning of the actor is part of a broader probe involving several celebrities who endorsed the app, which is under the scanner for money laundering and illegal operations. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad ED is now examining whether the app is legal or not. If found illegal, action might be initiated against the actor. ED had registered a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case based on the predicate offence booked by the Telangana police. 'Various statements by govts have recognised these gaming apps. A23 is a gaming app similarly recognised. If you search Google for top gaming apps, you will get results like A23, My11Circle, NPL and so on. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Emergency Generators in Montevideo: (Prices May Surprise You) Emergency Generator | Search Ads Search Now Undo These are registered gaming apps. They sponsor the Indian cricket team and the Olympic team. They are also official sponsors for the women's cricket team. They sponsor the kabaddi league and the volleyball league. They are completely legal entities. If someone is sponsoring the Olympic team, they must be legally authorised. Agencies and media should distinguish between gaming apps and betting apps,' he added. 'ED has called me without knowing about it. I have clarified. I have given them all the financial documents, transactions and account details they asked for. These apps are geo-locked. In Telangana, A23 is geo-locked and it won't open. Certain state govts allow it, while others won't allow it. ED has asked me about contract details also — I furnished them. They were satisfied,' he said. 'If there is anything further, I will let you know,' he said, adding 'whether it is right or wrong, the Supreme Court or the state govt will decide.' Meanwhile, actors Daggubati Rana and Manchu Lakshmi are scheduled to appear before ED in connection with the case next week. Skill-based gaming apps involve games where skill predominates, like fantasy sports. Indian courts, including those in Bombay and Punjab & Haryana, have ruled that such games do not constitute gambling under law. Betting and gambling apps, on the other hand, rely on chance-based wagering and fall under state gambling laws, which often prohibit them. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, there is a ban on all real-money online gaming, including skill games. Despite the ban, consumer surveys report 96% awareness of illegality, yet continued participation via offshore apps, VPNs, and proxy platforms, raising concerns about enforcement and public risk.
NDTV
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Actor Vijay Deverakonda Questioned, Says Even ED Officials Did Not Why
Hyderabad: After four hours of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in Hyderabad in the online betting case today, Tollywood actor Vijay Deverakonda said that even those who had questioned him did not know why his name had come up in the case. He is among 29 people being questioned by the ED, that has filed ECIRs based on FIRs filed by the Telangana police. The actor sought to make a distinction between illegal betting apps that was being investigated and gaming apps that are legal. "The gaming apps are legal, they have a GST, TDS, licence and permissions, " he said, adding, "They sought to know the company name, financial transactions, bank account numbers, all of which I have shared." The actor pointed out that gaming apps are legal and in fact support many like Indian cricket team, women's cricket, kabaddi, volleyball and so on. "The A23 app that I promoted is skill-based, that the Supreme Court has also said is legal. If you open app in Telangana, it will deny access," he explained, adding that he had only promoted it only in regions where it was legal and allowed. While the Telangana police is looking at cheating because of celebrity endorsement, the ED is looking at violations of PMLA, evasion of tax in promotion and sponsorship deals, digital ad revenue from online promotions and so on. The ED's probe is based on an Enforcement Case Information Report or ECIR filed against 29 celebrities, including actors, TV personalities, and social media influencers. The case stems from multiple First Information Reports filed by the Telangana Police, which allege that these public figures promoted betting apps in violation of the law. The ED suspects that these endorsements were part of a scheme to launder large sums of money generated through illegal gambling. Vijay Deverakonda's team had earlier issued a clarification after his name surfaced in the case. They clarified that Vijay Deverakonda's association was strictly limited to endorsing a "skill-based gaming platform" and was not for any illegal betting or gambling apps.
