The Enforcement Directorate has summoned actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda and Lakshmi Manchu for questioning in a money laundering case linked to illegal online betting and gambling by certain platforms, official sources said on Monday.The federal probe agency has asked Daggubati (40) to appear before its zonal office in Hyderabad on July 23. Raj (60) has been summoned on July 30, Deverakonda (36) on August 6 and Lakshmi (47) on August 13, the sources said, adding they had “endorsed” online betting apps allegedly involved in generating “illicit” funds.
Once they appear, the agency will record their statements under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken cognisance of as many as five state police FIRs to register its case against these actors and a number of other celebrities and social media influencers.
These individuals are suspected to have “endorsed” online betting apps like Junglee Rummy, JeetWin, Lotus365, etc, for celebrity or endorsement fee, according to ED sources.