Actress Tamannaah Bhatia questioned by ED in Guwahati over alleged IPL betting promotion

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Guwahati on Thursday for questioning related to her alleged involvement in promoting illegal betting activities linked to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The actress was summoned by the ED for allegedly endorsing the viewing of IPL matches on a subsidiary app of Mahadev online gaming, which has come under scrutiny for illegal betting operations.

Bhatia arrived at the ED office at approximately 1:30 PM, accompanied by her mother. The questioning continued into the late afternoon, with no official statement released at the time of this report. The focus of the investigation is on her role in promoting FairPlay, a betting exchange platform that offers various forms of gambling, including sports betting. FairPlay is a subsidiary of the Mahadev online gaming app, which is under investigation for facilitating illegal betting in live sports and chance-based games.

The Mahadev betting app first made headlines last year when Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor were summoned by the ED for their involvement in promotional activities for the platform. The crackdown has since expanded, drawing in several Bollywood celebrities linked to various online betting and gaming platforms.

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According to officials, the Mahadev app is notorious for offering platforms for illegal betting on a wide range of games, including cricket, football, poker, and more. The app's founder, Saurabh Chandrakar, has been at the center of the probe, with multiple actors and public figures brought in for questioning to determine their role in promoting these illegal activities.

In April 2024, Sahil Khan, a Bollywood actor and fitness influencer, was apprehended by the Special Investigating Team (SIT) of the Mumbai cyber cell after his pre-arrest bail plea was rejected by the Bombay High Court. Khan, who had previously promoted The Lion Book brand under a contract with M/s. Isports247, denied direct involvement with the betting platform, stating that he was merely a brand promoter.

Last year, Shraddha Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor were also questioned as part of the investigation into the Mahadev betting app. Comedian Kapil Sharma was summoned for attending an event organized by Saurabh Chandrakar, while other actors such as Huma Qureshi and Hina Khan were also called in to explain their promotional roles. The ED's interest in these celebrities largely revolves around determining whether the fees they received for these promotions were tied to the proceeds of illegal betting operations.

The crackdown on the Mahadev app is part of a broader effort by the ED and other law enforcement agencies to curb illegal online betting in India, which has attracted significant attention due to its connections with high-profile individuals in the entertainment industry. As investigations continue, more revelations are expected in the coming weeks.