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Prominent figures in the film industry, including actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi, are part of a group of 25 celebrities facing legal action in Telangana for purportedly endorsing unlawful betting applications. This comes after a complaint was lodged by businessman Phanindra Sarma. The FIR (First Information Report) also names a variety of influencers and celebrities, such as Praneetha, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagalla, Siri Hanumanthu, Sreemukhi, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, Shoba Shetty, Amrutha Chowdary, Nayani Pavani, Neha Pathan, Pandu, Padhmavathi, Imran Khan, Vishnu Priya, Harsha Sai, Sunny Yadav, Shyamala, Tasty Teja, and Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha. According to the FIR, these individuals have been promoting such apps and websites via social media marketing strategies involving their influence. It indicates that substantial amounts of money are at stake with these illegal ventures, which have detrimental effects on numerous families, particularly within the middle and lower-middle-class sectors.
The complainant asserts that many individuals are actively using these applications, with some losing significant amounts of their earnings. He mentioned that he too considered investing in one of these websites but changed his mind after his family advised against it. The complainant claims that multiple celebrities and influencers are endorsing these illicit betting platforms after securing large fees for their promotions. He noted in the FIR that these platforms are enticing the public, especially those in urgent need of financial assistance, to risk their hard-earned savings, fostering an addiction that can lead to devastating financial outcomes. The FIR has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to fraud, alongside applicable portions of the Information Technology Act and state legislation.
In response to the FIR, actor Prakash Raj indicated that he participated in a similar advertisement back in 2015 and that they chose to withdraw after one year. He mentioned that he is seeking more information about the ongoing case. The legal situation involving prominent Telugu cinema stars is anticipated to create a significant controversy, particularly because it follows the December arrest of actor Allu Arjun. His arrest occurred after a tragic incident during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at a cinema in Hyderabad, where a woman lost her life amid the crowded scene when people rushed to see him. Police stated that Allu Arjun's appearance was not scheduled, and no proper security measures were in place to manage the influx of fans.
The incident surrounding the actor's arrest generated considerable backlash, attracting scrutiny from the Congress’s political opponents in addition to notable figures within the film community. In the midst of the chaos, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy met with a group of filmmakers and actors, reassuring them that the state government supports the film industry while emphasizing the importance of maintaining law and order.
