The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a probe into 29 celebrities, including actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, and several social media influencers, for their alleged involvement in promoting illegal online betting platforms. The agency registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) on Thursday, following a complaint by a Hyderabad-based businessman.

Among the others named are well-known personalities such as Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, Manchu Lakshmi, two television hosts, and influencers including Harsha Sai and the creators behind the popular ‘Local Boi Nani’ YouTube channel. Officials suspect that these promotions may have involved significant financial transactions, potentially amounting to money laundering.

The matter came to light after PM Phanindra Sarma, a 32-year-old businessman, filed a complaint with the Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad on March 19. The FIR was filed under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Telangana Gaming Act, 2017, and the Information Technology (IT) Act. The Telangana Gaming Act prohibits all forms of online betting and gambling in the state.

According to the complaint, Phanindra learned during a conversation with local youth that many had been influenced by celebrity-endorsed pop-up ads on social media, which encouraged them to invest money into betting apps. He claimed that the promotions by these public figures played a major role in driving young users toward these illegal platforms.

Phanindra also revealed that he nearly invested in one of these apps himself but refrained after his family advised him against it due to the financial risks involved.

In response to the allegations, actor Vijay Deverakonda’s team issued an official statement, asserting that he had legally signed a contract to promote only skill-based online games, and not illegal betting apps. They clarified that his endorsement was strictly limited to regions where such games are legally allowed, and that he had no association with any form of unlawful betting or gambling.

The ED’s investigation is ongoing, with further scrutiny into the financial transactions and digital promotion strategies used to push these platforms to the public.