Goa, July 10 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a sweeping investigation into 29 celebrities from the Telugu states-including popular film actors, TV personalities, and social media influencers-for allegedly endorsing illegal online betting apps. The probe, initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), follows five FIRs registered in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at police stations in Panjagutta, Miyapur, Cyberabad, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam.

Among those named are prominent actors such as Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, Manchu Lakshmi, and Ananya Nagella. The list also includes TV hosts and influencers like Sreemukhi, Shyamala, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi...