Hyderabad, August 6:
Tollywood actor Vijay Deverakonda appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into the alleged promotion of illegal betting apps. After over four-and-a-half hours of questioning at the ED’s regional office, the actor clarified to the media that he was summoned regarding a gaming app he had legally endorsed—not a betting app.
Deverakonda emphasized that the app he promoted was a gaming platform, which is legally recognized and operates under government-issued licenses. “Gaming apps and betting apps are not the same. The app I endorsed is permitted by law and functions in regions where it is allowed,” he stated.
Responding to queries about the A23 app being inaccessible in Telangana, the actor explained that legal gaming apps have geo-location locks, preventing access in states where such platforms are banned. “Some state governments have permitted the app, and it operates only in those geographies,” he added.
The actor confirmed that he furnished all necessary details related to his financial transactions, account, and company information, and claimed that ED officials were satisfied with his responses.
Vijay Deverakonda is the second Tollywood actor to be questioned in the case. Earlier, veteran actor Prakash Raj appeared before the ED on July 30. Raj clarified that he had not received any payment for an advertisement he did for a gaming app in 2016, stating it was a decision driven by conscience.
The ED has summoned several celebrities, including Rana Daggubati and Manchu Lakshmi, as part of a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, based on FIRs filed in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
In total, 29 actors, influencers, and YouTubers are under investigation for allegedly endorsing illegal betting platforms.
