Hyderabad: Actress Manchu Laxmi Prasanna appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case related to the promotion of illegal betting app on Wednesday.
Lakshmi, who is also a producer, arrived at Ed’s Regional Office in Bashirbagh around 10.30 pm, the ED officials are likely to question them about the support for betting, the contract they had signed and received the remuneration. The central agency can record statements and collect details in relation to financial transactions.
Manchu Lakshmi is the fourth actor to appear before the ED in this case.
Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda and Rana Daggubati have already appeared in front of the central agency. These actors were questioned every 4-5 hours. Rana Daggubati was questioned for about four hours on Monday.
The ED called actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda and Manchu Lakshmi in the case last month. Prakash Raj appeared on 30 July, while Vijaya Devarakonda was questioned on 6 August.
Four actors were one of the 29 celebrities booked by the ED on July 10 to support illegal betting apps. The Central Agency filed an ECIR against 29 actors, affected and youtubers for allegedly promoting illegal betting platforms, in violation of Public Gambling Act, 1867.
Under the prevention of Money Laundering Act, investigation is based on five FIRs filed in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
In March this year, Vijay Devarakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj and others were allegedly booked by the Cyberbad Police to promote the betting app.
Rana Daggubati and Vijay Devarakonda said that he has only allowed online skill-based sports. After interrogation by the ED on 6 August, Vijay Devarakonda claimed that he was called for questioning about the gaming app, which he supported.
The actor said that he supported the gaming app because gaming apps are legal, recognized by the government and licensed as a business. He presented details like account, company and financial transactions.
Prakash Raj had told ED officials on July 30 that he had not made any payment for the support made in the past. Officials took details about the advertisement made for a betting app in 2016.
Prakash Raj said that he told the ED officials that he did not make any payment, as his conscience did not allow him to take it.
He reiterated that he made only one advertisement for the gaming app, but later realized that he should not have done so.
