ED Cracks Down on Illegal Betting Apps: Celebrities Under Scanner

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into the illegal betting app racket that has been operating across several cities, including Hyderabad and Cyberabad. Acting on multiple FIRs lodged by local police, the ED has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The investigation aims to uncover the financial trail and the key individuals involved in the promotion and operation of these illicit apps.

In a major development, the ED has filed cases against 29 individuals, including popular film and television celebrities such as Manchulakshmi, Rana Daggubati, Sreemukhi, Nidhi Agarwal, Prakash Raj, and Ananya Nagalla. These personalities are alleged to have promoted betting apps on social media platforms, events, and advertisements, thereby contributing to their wide-scale reach and profitability. The ED suspects that the funds generated through these apps were laundered through various channels, violating the provisions of the PMLA.

As part of the investigation, the ED will soon summon and record the statements of all the accused celebrities to ascertain their role and financial gains, if any, from these promotions. The agency is also examining transactions linked to the betting apps to trace the origin and end-use of the money. This crackdown sends a strong signal about the government’s seriousness in tackling online financial crimes, especially those that lure youth into illegal activities under the guise of entertainment and quick money.