As part of its investigation in the case pertaining to illegal betting apps and platforms, the Enforcement Directorate has now decided to focus on celebs endorsing these platforms. This list of celebs includes names like Sonu Sood, Urvashi Rautela, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and others.
According to NDTV Profit, Sonu, Urvashi and the others were questioned by the ED regarding their connection and endorsement deals with the online betting platforms.
"These platforms have gained massive visibility by partnering with celebrities and influencers — even in defiance of explicit government bans," an ED official reportedly said.
Sonu and Urvashi are yet to issue their official statements on the row.
It was in March when an FIR was lodged in Hyderabad against 25 celebrities, including Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Manchu Lakhsmi, Praneetha, and Nidhi Agarwal, for promoting illegal betting apps.
The complaint stated that the celebs were charging massive remuneration to promote the platforms. "Thousands of lakhs of rupees are involved in these illegal platforms and it is also leading many families into distress, especially that of middle-class and lower middle-class," a part of the complaint read.
Post the fiasco, Prakash Raj had admitted that he had appeared in one such ad back in 2015, but opted out of it within a year. Rana Daggubati, on the other hand, stated via his team that his endorsement deal was compliant with the law.
"This is to clarify that Rana Daggubati entered into a contract with a company to act as a brand ambassador for skill-based games, which expired in 2017. His endorsement was strictly limited to regions where online skill-based games were legally permitted," the statement by his legal team read.
