Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Vs Telugu Stars Again? FIR Against 25 Actors In Betting App Case

In yet another face-off between the Telangana government and the Telugu film industry, the state police have filed an FIR against several top celebrities for allegedly endorsing illegal betting and gambling apps on their social media platforms.

Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda and Manchu Lakshmi are among the top actors whose names have been mentioned in the FIR. As per the reports, 25 celebrities and influencers are facing the heat after a businessman, Phanindra Sarma, filed a complaint.

Here Are The Celebs Named In FIR

Pranitha, 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 have been named in the FIR.

The FIR claims that the aforementioned celebrities promote the apps and websites through ads on social media sites."Thousands of lakhs of rupees are involved in these illegal platforms and it is also leading many families into distress, especially that of middle-class and lower middle-class," the FIR reads as per NDTV.

What's In The FIR?

The complainant claims that many people have lost their hard-earned money on these platforms, which lure users in with promises of easy winnings but ultimately lead to financial ruin. He himself nearly fell for one such scam but backed out after his family warned him.

The FIR highlights how influencers and stars are accepting hefty payments to endorse these apps, pushing vulnerable people-especially those in financial distress-into addiction and eventual financial collapse. The case has been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the IT Act, and state laws related to cheating.

Bigger Storm Brewing?

The case comes at a time when Telugu cinema is already under scrutiny. Just months ago, Allu Arjun was arrested in connection with a tragic incident at a Pushpa 2: The Rule premiere in Hyderabad, where a woman lost her life in the chaos. The cops had then alleged that the Telugu actor had appeared without prior permission which led to a stampede-like situation.

His arrest had sparked heated debates, with opposition parties and members of the film industry criticizing the move. Following the backlash, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy met with top filmmakers and actors, assuring them of the government's support for the industry-but also making it clear that law and order would not be compromised.