Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to address the growing concerns over mobile betting applications, online rummy, and digital betting games in the state. Speaking in the state assembly on Wednesday, Revanth Reddy emphasized that strict legal action would be taken against anyone involved in promoting or managing betting apps.
The Chief Minister stated that stringent measures would be put in place, including potential amendments to existing laws to ensure tougher punishments for offenders. “I want to make it clear that Telangana is not a place for betting addictions,” he declared, stressing the government's commitment to combat the issue.
Revanth Reddy also highlighted the global nature of online betting, noting that it had become an international crime. He called for coordinated efforts from neighboring states and even other countries to investigate and address online betting issues, acknowledging that the state police alone could not permanently tackle the problem.
This announcement comes in the wake of a major development on March 20, when Miyapur police in Hyderabad filed cases against 25 film actors and social media influencers for promoting online betting apps. The accused celebrities, including Daggubati Rana, Vijay Devarakonda, Prakash Raj, Nidhi Agarwal, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, Ananya Nagalla, Vishnu Priya, and Shyamala, were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Telangana State Gaming Act, and the IT Act.
The police investigation expanded to include the managements of 19 websites and apps facilitating these games, and a memo was submitted to the court regarding the ongoing case. Some of the actors and influencers have been questioned by the police, with prominent figures like Prakash Raj and Vijay Devarakonda admitting to having promoted the apps in the past, though both stated their contracts with the agencies had ended.
The Telangana government’s move aims to curb the spread of online gambling and safeguard residents from the harmful effects of digital betting.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)