Daijiworld Media Network- Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Jul 30: In a major development linked to the alleged online betting and gambling racket, renowned South Indian actor Prakash Raj appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Hyderabad on Wednesday for questioning under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The 60-year-old actor, who is widely known for his work in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi cinema, was summoned by the central agency for his alleged association with certain online betting platforms currently under investigation for generating illicit funds through illegal gambling activities.
According to ED sources, the actor's statement was recorded at the agency's zonal office, where he was questioned about his role in promoting and endorsing these platforms.
Alongside Prakash Raj, several other celebrities from the South Indian film fraternity have also come under the ED’s radar. Actor Rana Daggubati, originally summoned on July 23, has been given a fresh date of August 11 after he requested deferment. Meanwhile, Vijay Deverakonda has been called on August 6, and Lakshmi Manchu is set to appear on August 13.
Sources in the agency revealed that these celebrities had promoted betting apps such as Junglee Rummy, JeetWin, and Lotus365. These platforms are accused of being involved in illegal betting operations and generating proceeds worth crores of rupees through unregulated digital gambling.
The ED initiated the investigation after taking cognisance of multiple FIRs registered by various state police departments. The agency is now examining the involvement of celebrities, social media influencers, and endorsement agencies suspected of unintentionally or knowingly supporting the spread of these platforms.
While a few actors have reportedly claimed ignorance regarding the exact functioning of the apps, the agency is expected to scrutinize endorsement contracts and payment records to establish the extent of their association.
The case continues to unfold as the Enforcement Directorate deepens its crackdown on digital financial crimes linked to online betting.