The Maharashtra cyber cell has summoned actor Tamannaah Bhatia regarding her alleged involvement in promoting the viewing of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches on a subsidiary app of the Mahadev online gaming and betting platform.
Tamannaah, renowned for her roles in films such as Baahubali and the Netflix anthology Lust Stories 2, has been requested to appear before Maharashtra cyber officials on April 29th.
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Tamannaah Bhatia Among Celebrities Summoned for Alleged Endorsement of Betting App
According to ANI reports, both Tamannaah and Sanjay Dutt have allegedly endorsed the subsidiary app of the Mahadev betting platform, operated by FairPlay. They have been summoned by the Maharashtra cyber cell for their alleged involvement in promoting the viewing of IPL matches on the said betting app.
Both Tamannaah and Sanjay Dutt have been called upon to provide their statements as witnesses in the case. Sanjay Dutt, citing his hectic work commitments, has requested a postponement to a later date. Notably, the Maharashtra cyber cell has already recorded statements from singer Badshah and the managers of actors Sanjay Dutt and Jacqueline Fernandez regarding the matter.
Prior to this incident, in 2020, Badshah faced questioning by the Mumbai police regarding his involvement in a probe related to a racket involved in the creation and sale of fake social media followers and ‘likes’. During this investigation, he was interrogated by the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU).
Various investigation agencies are scrutinizing the Mahadev app for alleged illegal transactions and betting activities. In 2023, celebrities such as Kapil Sharma, Sonakshi Sinha, Huma Qureshi, and Hina Khan came under the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning the Mahadev money-laundering case. Additionally, the ED summoned actor Ranbir Kapoor to its Raipur office in connection with the Mahadev online betting app case.
The ED’s investigation also extended to several other high-profile celebrities and certain sports personalities. These individuals were suspected due to their association with the app, either through promotion or attendance at events hosted by the company’s head, Sourabh Chandrakar. Specifically, their presence at Chandrakar’s wedding in 2023 and the company’s success party in September 2022 drew scrutiny from the ED.
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Viacom18’s Battle Against Unauthorized IPL Streaming on FairPlay
The illegal IPL streaming case involves the FairPlay app, a betting exchange platform that offers various sports and entertainment gambling options. In 2023, it was reported that some IPL matches were illegally streamed on the app. This activity was conducted without permission from Viacom 18, the entity holding exclusive broadcasting rights for the cricket tournament. As a result, the broadcaster incurred significant losses due to the alleged unauthorized streaming.
Viacom18, possessing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for streaming IPL 2023 matches, discovered that FairPlay was streaming the cricket tournament from March 2023 to May 2023 without authorization. In response, Viacom18 filed a complaint with the Maharashtra cyber cell, citing digital copyright infringement.
The Mahadev betting app case revolves around allegations of facilitating illegal betting activities on various online games, including poker, card games, chance games, badminton, tennis, football, and cricket. It is purportedly operated by individuals named Sourabh and Ravi Uppal, based in Dubai. While betting is legal in Dubai, it is prohibited in India. The case involves investigations into the operation and promotion of the Mahadev app, which allegedly facilitated illegal betting activities within India’s jurisdiction.
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