ED Shocker: Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj Among 29 Celebs in Betting App Money Laundering Scandal!

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a high-profile money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeting 29 celebrities, including Tollywood actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, Ananya Nagalla, and TV host Sreemukhi, along with YouTubers like Harsha Sai and Bayya Sunny Yadav.

The probe, sparked by five FIRs filed by Cyberabad and Visakhapatnam police, focuses on endorsements of illegal betting platforms like Junglee Rummy, JeetWin, Parimatch, and Lotus365, which allegedly generated crores in illicit funds.

The ED suspects these celebrities received hefty endorsement fees for promoting apps that lured vulnerable users, particularly youth, into financial distress through pop-up ads and social media campaigns. A businessman, Phanindra Sarma, filed a key complaint, alleging these promotions led to losses worth thousands of crores. For instance, a Visakhapatnam resident reported losing ₹3.09 crore to apps like Dafabet and Betway.

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Vijay Deverakonda’s team clarified he endorsed only A23, a skill-based gaming platform, until 2023, citing Supreme Court rulings distinguishing rummy from gambling. Rana Daggubati’s legal team stated his 2017 contract was legally vetted, limited to permissible regions.

Prakash Raj admitted to a 2016 Junglee Rummy endorsement but withdrew in 2017 due to ethical concerns. The ED will record statements to assess their roles and the extent of “proceeds of crime.” Further FIRs and complainant testimonies are being gathered to deepen the investigation.

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