Tamannaah Bhatia summoned by Maharashtra Cyber Cell: All you need to know about the IPL gaming scam

Tamannaah Bhatia has been summoned by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell regarding her alleged involvement in the promotion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches on a subsidiary FairPlay App of the Mahadev online gaming and betting platform. Known for her roles in 'Baahubali' and 'Lust Stories 2', she has been asked to appear before Cyber Cell on April 29th.

According to ANI, Tamannaah and Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt have been called to record their statement as part of ongoing investigations in the case. Sanjay Dutt was summoned to appear before the Cyber Cell on April 23, however, he failed to do so, citing that he was out of the country on work commitments. He requested the authorities for a later date. The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has reportedly previously summoned singer Badshah and Jacqueline Fernandez to record their statements in the case.

Officials stated that the FairPlay app, a betting exchange platform, provides various sports and entertainment gambling options. They mentioned receiving a complaint regarding the "illegal streaming" of some IPL matches on the App in 2023. Viacom 18, the exclusive broadcaster of the cricket tournament, reported that the unauthorised streaming caused significant losses to the tune of over Rs 100 crore.

Various agencies are conducting investigations into the Mahadev App on suspicion of illegal transactions and betting activities. In 2023, celebrities including Kapil Sharma, Sonakshi Sinha, Huma Qureshi, and Hina Khan were investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding a money-laundering case linked to the company. Additionally, the ED summoned actor Ranbir Kapoor to appear at their office in Raipur for his alleged involvement in the promotion of the app that has reportedly roped in 425 persons from different fields.