The Telugu cinema industry is once more in the dock with a number of popular stars, including Vijay Deverakonda and Prakash Raj, being booked by the police for promoting illegal betting apps allegedly. As per recent reports, these actors are among a list of 25 Telangana celebrities who are currently in trouble after a formal complaint made by businessman Phanindra Sarma. Vijay Deverakonda’s fans are left stunned as their favorite star is at the epicenter of this scandal.
Tollywood Celebrities Embroiled in Betting App Scandal
The who’s who list of Tollywood celebrities implicated in the case is long, including actors Rana Daggubati, 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 as well.
Police case charges that these stars openly endorsed illegal bettinig applications, which, the complaint states, have brought about considerable financial hardship to numerous unsuspecting players.
FIR Filed Upon Serious Charges
The complaint by businessman Phanindra Sarma resulted in the registration of the First Information Report (FIR). Sarma has charged the stars with recommending apps that lead vulnerable individuals to invest their hard-earned money only to end up financially devastated.
The FIR reads, “Thousands of lakhs of rupees are invested in these illegal platforms and many families, particularly from middle and lower-middle-class backgrounds, are driven into serious distress.” It also claims that these platforms target those individuals who are desperate to be financially secure and convince them to invest in the expectation of earning money quickly.
Sarma disclosed that he himself came close to investing in one such app but backed out after his family stepped in. He asserted that these apps foster a hazardous addiction, leading people to lose significant amounts of money and eventually drive families into financial ruin.
Vijay Deverakonda’s Involvement Shocks Fans
Among those stars entangled in the scandal, Vijay Deverakonda’s involvement has left his fans especially stunned. With a clean image and immense fanbase, the news of the police case has created quite a buzz on social media. Fans of the actor are rallying behind him, asking for thorough investigation before making assumptions.
Earlier, Deverakonda had promoted A23, which is a website that hosts games of skill like rummy. The website had already got a legal go-ahead from the Supreme Court, as it declared rummy a game of skill, not gambling. But the charges now say the actor might have inadvertently endorsed apps that blurred lines into illegality.
Celebrity Endorsements Under the Scanner
This episode has brought the issue of celebrity responsibility when it comes to promoting products and services back into the limelight. With their huge following, celebrities tend to be instrumental in shaping public opinion. But when endorsements fail, the repercussions are dire — not only for the celebrities but also for the public who believe them.
India has witnessed a spate of online gaming websites in recent years, some of which are functioning in legal gray areas. While some games of skill are legally allowed, betting apps masquerading under the same umbrella have tempted users into money pits. Consequently, the authorities are tightening the noose around illegal gambling apps and public personalities who support them.
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What Awaits Vijay Deverakonda and Others?
As the investigation proceeds, it is unclear how the legal proceedings will affect these celebrities’ careers and reputations. Vijay Deverakonda has not yet made a personal comment on the recent updates. Nevertheless, his PR team had previously explained that he only promoted legally approved platforms and that he had severed his partnership with A23 last year.
While fans wait for greater clarity as the judicial process unfolds, the question is, will Vijay Deverakonda and Prakash Raj be able to restore their reputation? Will this scandal leave a permanent scar on their otherwise illustrious career? Only time will tell.
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