Prominent actor Prakash Raj appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Wednesday evening in connection with the ongoing probe into online betting and gaming applications.
Officials of the CID questioned him for several hours about his involvement in promoting an app that was later converted into a betting platform.
Speaking to reporters after the interrogation, Prakash Raj said, “In 2016, I promoted an app for advertising purposes. That app later turned into a betting application in 2017, after which I terminated my contract. Whether done knowingly or unknowingly, it was a mistake, and I sincerely apologise for it.”
He added that he had provided all relevant documents, bank statements, and promotional contracts to the SIT.
“I’ve realised how these betting apps have ruined the lives of many youngsters and their families. Hard work alone brings real success — not gambling. I will never repeat such a mistake again,” he said.
The SIT was constituted under the supervision of Additional DGP, CID, after several cases were filed across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh against celebrities for endorsing online betting platforms.
So far, 29 persons, including actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, and Manchu Lakshmi, have been named as accused in the investigation.
The SIT is probing whether celebrity endorsements contributed to the widespread popularity of illegal gaming and betting platforms that have caused significant financial losses to thousands of users.
