CID Grills Prakash Raj in Betting Apps Case
Actor records statement; CID likely to summon Rana Daggubati next as probe into betting app links widens.
Hyderabad: A day after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) questioned Tollywood actor Vijay Devarakonda in betting apps promotions, the CID officials on Wednesday grilled another Tollywood actor Prakash Raj and recorded his statement in connection with the case.
The CID officials are likely to summon actor Rana Daggubati for questioning in connection with the betting apps promotion case. Several film actors were promoting the betting apps, a few years ago, influencing the netizens.
On Wednesday, Prakash Raj appeared before the CID. A team of officers questioned him in getting details related to betting apps management and how he was approached by the promoters. His statement was recorded by the officials regarding collection from betting app organisers, its operation and the reason for promotions.
The CID officials also focused on money transactions which were made between the Tollywood actor and betting apps authorities. It was reported that Prakash Raj did his promotion a few years ago and was not involved in any nexus in connection with the betting apps. Sources said, Prakash Raj explained that he was promoting app in 2016 and no transactions were made. He also told CID that he had stopped promoting such things keeping in mind that betting apps are illegal; wherein hundreds of youths were looted by the app promoters.
The CID is likely to summon Rana Daggubati in connection with case. Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate officials had grilled actors such as Vijay Deverakonda, Prakash Raj, Rana Daggubati, Lakshmi Manchu and others for promoting betting apps and inquired about the monetary transactions.
The CID had raided premises linked to betting platforms such as Taj0077, Fairplay.live, Andhra365, Vlbook, Telugu365, and Yes365 located in different states. Unemployed youth had been engaged to operate the apps by the promoters staying abroad.
