Hyderabad Police Register Criminal Cases Against YSRCP Spokesperson and YouTubers for Promoting Illegal Betting Apps
The Hyderabad police have registered criminal cases against YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) spokesperson Shyamala and 10 other YouTubers for allegedly promoting illegal betting applications. The cases were filed by the Punjagutta police after an investigation revealed that the accused were endorsing betting apps related to color prediction, number prediction, and cricket, which are reportedly operated from China.
The list of accused includes several social media influencers and television personalities such as Harsha Sai, Vishnu Priya, Imran Khan, Ritu Choudhary, Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha, Kiran Goud, Ajay, Sunny Yadav, and Sudheer, among others.
The complaint was lodged by V. Vinay, a resident of Miyapur who is currently undergoing training at an institute in Ameerpet. Vinay noticed that many students attending the training were becoming addicted to these betting apps, resulting in significant financial losses. Concerned about the adverse impact on students, Vinay approached the Punjagutta police and filed a complaint against the YouTubers for promoting these illegal apps.
Following the complaint, the police registered cases against the 11 YouTubers and influencers under various sections of the Gaming Act (Sections 3, 3A, and 4), Section 66D of the Information Technology (IT) Act, and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police are now preparing to issue notices to the accused for questioning. Depending on the statements given by the individuals, arrests may follow.
This action highlights the growing concern around illegal betting applications and their impact on youth, especially in the digital space where influencers have the power to sway their audiences.
