Nidhhi Agerwal Appears Before ED in Hyderabad Over Betting App Case

Actress Nidhhi Agerwal appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Hyderabad on Wednesday for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged promotion of illegal betting apps.

Agerwal arrived at the ED office in Hyderabad under police escort to attend the inquiry, following a notice served to her. The questioning comes months after she previously appeared before the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Hyderabad regarding the same matter.

Authorities have booked 21 celebrities and influencers so far as part of the broader investigation into the promotion of illegal gambling platforms. Last year, Telangana police registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad after receiving a petition from a 32-year-old businessman, PM Phanindra Sarma.

The complaint, lodged on March 19 last year, alleged that public figures were promoting illegal gambling apps in violation of the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Sarma stated that conversations with local youth revealed several individuals had been influenced by social media advertisements by celebrities to invest money in these applications.

Alongside Agerwal, the police report named several other celebrities and influencers, including Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, Ananya Nagella, Siri Hanumanthu, Sreemukhi, and Varshini Sounderajan.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court stated that it will list pleas seeking strict regulation of online and offline betting apps for a final hearing.