Actor Prakash Raj was questioned by Telangana’s Special Investigation Team over his past association with an online betting app; the actor clarified he withdrew from the project before betting began.

Actor Prakash Raj was questioned by the Telangana Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Wednesday in connection with a probe into the promotion of an online betting application. The SIT, formed under the CID to curb illegal digital betting, summoned the actor after a public complaint linked him to an app he had endorsed in 2016.

Speaking to the media after the questioning, Raj clarified that the advertisement was filmed before betting services began, and he later withdrew from the project without accepting payment once it turned into a betting platform. “I realised it was wrong and stopped associating with it,” he said, urging young people to avoid betting apps that are destroying lives.

Authorities have booked several app operators, influencers, and celebrities under the Telangana State Gaming Act, 2017, which bans all forms of online betting.

Analysis: The case highlights the growing accountability of celebrities promoting online platforms amid India’s crackdown on illegal gaming networks. With youth increasingly falling prey to betting addiction, the Telangana SIT’s probe underscores the need for ethical endorsements and stricter digital advertising scrutiny in the entertainment industry.