In a major enforcement action, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has booked 29 actors, social media influencers, and YouTubers for allegedly endorsing illegal online betting platforms.
The agency has filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against the celebrities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), following multiple FIRs registered in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. These include cases filed in Panjagutta, Miyapur, Cyberabad, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam.
Prominent names under scrutiny include actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, and Manchu Lakshmi, as well as popular TV personalities Sreemukhi and Shyamala. Influential YouTubers such as Harsha Sai, Bayya Sunny Yadav, and Local Boi Nani are also among those named.
List (i)Rana Daggubati.
(ii)Prakash Raj.
(iii)Vijay Devarakonda.
(iv)Manchu Lakshmi.
(v)Praneetha.
(vi)Nidhi Agarwal.
(vii)Ananya Nagella.
(viii)Siri Hanumanthu.
(ix)Sreemukhi.
(x)Varshini Sounderajan.
(xi)Vasanthi Krishnan.
(xii)Shoba Shetty.
(xiii)Amrutha Chowdary.
(xiv)Nayani… pic.twitter.com/KstI47tdb2— Sudhakar Udumula (@sudhakarudumula) July 10, 2025
According to ED sources, these celebrities allegedly promoted platforms like JeetWin, Parimatch, and Lotus365, which are suspected of facilitating illegal gambling. The promotions, often disguised as entertainment or charity initiatives, reportedly encouraged users to bet on online games and casino-style activities.
Investigators believe that the endorsements enabled large-scale money laundering operations, with significant sums being routed through influencer payments and promotional contracts. The promotions allegedly violated the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and local gaming laws.
Complaints filed by individuals, including businessman Phanindra Sarma and entrepreneur Vinay Vangala, claimed that celebrity-backed endorsements directly influenced young audiences to gamble, leading to substantial financial losses. In one case, complainant Puli Kumar Reddy reported losing over ₹3 crore after being persuaded by YouTube promotions.
While some celebrities have denied wrongdoing and stated they exited brand contracts due to ethical concerns, ED officials maintain that promotional payments and financial trails are being closely scrutinized.
Summons to the accused celebrities are expected shortly as part of the next phase of investigation.
The crackdown underscores growing regulatory focus on online gambling and the responsibility of public figures in endorsing potentially harmful platforms, especially among impressionable audiences. Further investigation is ongoing.