Title: Rana Daggubati Seeks New Date for ED Appearance Over Betting Case

Hyderabad, July 23  – Actor Rana Daggubati has requested an alternate date to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a case involving the alleged promotion of illegal betting apps.

Daggubati was asked to appear on July 23, but he informed the ED that he could not attend due to ongoing film commitments in Tamil Nadu. The ED is expected to issue a new date for his appearance.

Along with Daggubati, other actors Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi have also been summoned by the ED in the same case. Raj is set to appear on July 30, Deverakonda on August 6, and Manchu Lakshmi on August 13.

These four celebrities were among 29 individuals charged by the ED on July 10 for allegedly endorsing illegal betting platforms. The central agency filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, following FIRs in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The suspects are accused of promoting betting apps that violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867.

In total, 29 celebrities, including film actors, influencers, and YouTubers, have been implicated in the case. The list includes names like Vijay Deverakonda, Prakash Raj, Nidhi Agarwal, and Manchu Lakshmi, along with TV actors and social media influencers.

Earlier, the Hyderabad and Cyberabad police had filed FIRs against the same group of individuals. The ED investigation suggests that the endorsement of platforms such as Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, and Parimatch may have involved money laundering through paid promotions.

When the police first charged the actors, many denied any wrongdoing. Daggubati and Deverakonda maintained that they had only promoted legal online skill-based games, while Raj stated that he stopped endorsing such platforms in 2017 after realizing it was not ethically right.