A police case has been registered in Telangana against 25 well-known celebrities, including actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi, for allegedly promoting illegal betting apps. The case was filed following a complaint by businessman Phanindra Sarma, who alleged that these celebrities and influencers played a role in endorsing online betting platforms through advertisements and social media promotions.

Prominent Names in the FIR

Apart from the renowned actors, the FIR also names several other celebrities and influencers, including:

• 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, Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha

The complaint highlights that these personalities have been involved in promoting betting apps and websites, leading many individuals, particularly from middle-class and lower-middle-class families, into financial distress.

Serious Allegations of Financial Exploitation

The FIR states that thousands of crores of rupees are involved in these illegal platforms, causing immense financial hardship to users who are lured by promotional campaigns. According to the complainant, several people have lost significant sums of money after investing in these betting platforms.

Phanindra Sarma, who filed the complaint, mentioned that he nearly deposited money into one such website but refrained from doing so after his family cautioned him. He alleged that celebrities have been accepting large sums as remuneration to promote these platforms, which manipulate financially vulnerable individuals into gambling and addiction.

Legal Charges and Investigation

The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to cheating, as well as provisions of the Information Technology Act and state laws. Authorities are investigating the extent of these promotions and the impact of celebrity endorsements on public participation in illegal betting.

Impact and Further Actions

This case highlights the growing concern over celebrity endorsements of online betting platforms, a practice that has been increasingly scrutinized by law enforcement agencies across India. Legal experts suggest that if found guilty, the accused could face strict action under the newly implemented laws.

Meerut was shaken by a gruesome murder as a six-year-old girl’s haunting words, “Papa drum mein hai,” led to the shocking discovery of her father’s dismembered body hidden in a plastic drum filled with wet cement. The victim, Saurabh Rajput, a Merchant Navy officer, had been murdered on March 4, allegedly by his wife, Muskaan Rastogi, and her lover, Sahil Shukla.

Child’s revelation exposes crime

Saurabh Rajput had returned from London to celebrate his daughter’s sixth birthday when he was allegedly killed in cold blood. According to the police, Muskaan and Sahil chopped his body into 15 pieces and buried them in wet cement inside a drum. The case came to light when labourers sent to vacate the couple’s rented house struggled to move the drum due to its weight. A foul stench upon opening the drum prompted them to alert the authorities.

Renu Devi, Saurabh’s mother, in a heart-wrenching account, revealed that neighbours had heard the young girl repeatedly saying, “Papa drum mein hai,” hinting that she may have witnessed the crime. “She must have seen something. That’s why they removed her from there,” Renu Devi said.

A marriage in turmoil

Saurabh and Muskaan had a love marriage in 2016, but tensions arose when Saurabh left his job to spend more time with her, which did not sit well with his family. The couple later moved into a rented house. In 2019, they had a daughter, but their marital troubles intensified when Saurabh discovered Muskaan’s affair with his friend Sahil.

Although divorce was considered, Saurabh refrained from proceeding with it, thinking about his daughter’s well-being. In 2023, he moved to London for work, while Muskaan and Sahil grew closer. Their alleged relationship eventually culminated in the brutal murder of Saurabh.

Parents demand justice

Muskaan’s parents have openly condemned their daughter’s actions, asserting that she and Sahil were involved in drugs and feared that Saurabh would intervene in their activities. “She told us that Sahil feared Saurabh would stop their drug sessions,” her father said.

Her mother, Kavita, stated that they were unaware of her drug use and the affair. “We thought she was upset because Saurabh was away. We did not know Sahil was pushing her into drugs,” she said.

Seeking justice for Saurabh, Muskaan’s parents expressed their firm stance on the punishment she deserves. “She should be hanged. She has lost the right to live,” they said in a tearful statement.

With Muskaan and Sahil now in police custody, authorities are piecing together the chilling details of this horrific crime. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of Muskaan’s family’s involvement, as Saurabh’s mother alleges that they were aware of the crime.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and minister Nara Lokesh has launched a scathing attack on YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief and former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of turning a tourism project into a “sheesh mahal” at the state’s expense. Speaking on the controversy surrounding Reddy’s luxurious mansion at Rushikonda Hills, Lokesh claimed that the former CM thought he would rule like Iraq’s dictator Saddam Hussein for decades.

Lokesh, the son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, criticized the opulence of the estate, stating, “My grandfather was the Chief Minister, my father is Chief Minister, but I have never seen such big rooms.” He also mentioned that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had imposed penalties of Rs 200 crores related to the construction.

Rs 700 Crore Mansion Under Scrutiny

The TDP government has accused the previous administration of misusing public funds to build an extravagant residence. The mansion, reportedly costing Rs 700 crore, is spread over 10 acres in Rushikonda Hills, a prime tourist location. The estate consists of four blocks featuring high-end Italian flooring and plush interiors.

Lokesh also took a dig at Reddy’s family, stating that despite his sister YS Sharmila and mother YS Vijayalakshmi distancing themselves from him, “For four people to live in a house, Rs 700 crore was spent. Even the Prime Minister doesn’t have such a big house.”

Political Fallout and Allegations

Jagan Mohan Reddy, the son of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, lost political ties with his sister after she joined the Congress, with their mother supporting her decision. Following the TDP’s return to power, the Naidu-led government has intensified scrutiny on alleged financial mismanagement by the previous regime.

The controversy over the Rushikonda mansion has sparked heated debates, with the TDP leadership signaling that a decision on the estate’s future will be taken soon.