25 Celebrities, Influencers Counselled Against Promoting Online Betting Platforms: Telangana CID
Hyderabad, June 1 (TNT): Telangana Police have counselled 25 celebrities and social media influencers against promoting online betting platforms and urged them to create public awareness about the risks associated with such activities, CID Director General Ms Charu Sinha said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference after announcing the dismantling of the “DafaBet illegal betting network” and the arrest of 11 accused, including two key organisers and an Afghan national, Ms Sinha said the celebrities and influencers were advised not to endorse online betting applications and instead help spread awareness about their harmful consequences.
She said 21 of them had already responded positively and submitted video messages discouraging participation in online betting activities, while the remaining four were yet to submit their commitments.
The CID chief said appropriate action would be considered if the remaining individuals failed to respond.
Responding to queries on celebrities and social media influencers promoting betting platforms, Ms Sinha said the investigation was presently focused on the DafaBet case and that authorities had only recently begun examining related aspects.
She noted that online betting had been banned in Telangana for several years but acknowledged that action against celebrities endorsing such platforms was a complex issue given the large number of individuals involved in such promotions.
“The message from the police is clear—people should not endorse betting applications,” she said.
Ms Sinha said those who had promoted betting platforms should help undo the damage caused by their endorsements, but declined to elaborate further, citing the ongoing investigation.
According to the CID, Telangana Police have registered 414 cases against various illegal online betting applications across the state.
A total of 108 betting applications were identified and proposals were submitted to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), resulting in their blocking.
Additionally, 37 online betting applications have been geo-fenced in coordination with internet service providers (ISPs), restricting access to the platforms within Telangana.
The CID has also prepared and circulated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to investigating officers handling online betting cases to ensure a uniform and effective investigative process.
Appealing to the public, Ms Sinha urged citizens, particularly youth and students, to stay away from online betting platforms and report such activities to the nearest police station or through the National Cyber Crime Helpline, 1930.
TNT TS
