New Delhi:
The Telangana Police has registered an FIR against 25 famous celebrities and influencers for promoting illegal betting and gambling apps through social media platforms. These include popular celebrities like Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda and Lakshmi Manchu. FIR was lodged at Miyapur police station in Hyderabad following the petition of a 32 -year -old businessman PM Phanindra Sharma. The complaint filed on March 19 this year reveals a disturbing tendency to promote illegal gambling apps on celebrities and influencers who violate the public gambling act of 1867.

Phanindra claims that during a conversation with some youth on March 16, he found that many people have encouraged them to invest their money in these gambling apps. This app was promoted by social media celebs and big personalities. According to the complaint, these celebs are allegedly accepting a large amount to promote different betting platforms, which promote users to gamble their hard earned money.

Phanindra himself was also going to invest in one of these platforms but after explaining his family, he did not do so. The police report features many famous celebrities and influencers, who are accused of promoting illegal gambling apps, including Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda, Laxmi Maanchu, Praneeta, Nidhi Aggarwal, Ananya Nagela, Siri Hanumanthu, Shrimukhi, Varshirajan and many others.

The petition emphasized that these apps and platforms are widely causing financial losses, especially between lower and middle class families, who are being easily implicated in false promises to earn money.

The Telangana police have accused the accused under several sections of the TS Gaming Act and the IT Act, including Section 66 (D) of the Information Technology Act, which is related to fraud and identity theft. The FIR also includes sections that are related to promoting illegal betting activities, which is now being investigated by Officer G. Ramesh Naidu.

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