PIL Filed in Supreme Court Seeks Immediate Ban on Betting Apps, Legal Action Against Celebrity Endorsers:

In light of the devastating consequences of betting applications on the youth, an attempt has been made to lodge a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the Supreme Court to seek an immediate ban on these applications, a statement said.

This PIL was also filed against some celebrities, including cricketers and actors from the Bollywood and south Indian film industries for “misleading large sections of the populace and promoting detrimental practices’’ through their social media accounts by endorsing betting apps.

Paul also urged the Indian government to take some swift measures by prohibiting theuse of all gambling and betting applications and fortifying the laws against them.

Paul held a press conference on Tuesday at Andhra Bhawan in Delhi wherein he claimed that there is a shocking spike in the number of people who resort to taking their own life because of owing money to online gambling sites.

“It has been reported that 978 youngsters have committed suicide in the State of Telangana within the last one year’s time period. The cause has been traced to the economic and mental hassles spawned by these gambling platforms. The statement quoted Paul when he said, ‘The future of India is at risk and cannot let a few billion dollars of revenue come at the cost of millions of young lives’”.

It was said that Paul was planning to sue the stars because, in his claim, while they were set to be role models, they were promoting platforms that were ruining lives.

He praised the Telangana Police for filing FIRs against 25 stars who were promoting gambling but expressed concern about what has been described as token arrests and quick releases, the release said.

The release informed that Paul has given an ultimatum of 72 hours to celebrity endorsers.

“They are left with two options: issue a public apology and surrender all profits earned from the endorsements to the impacted families, or be legal bound. If they don’t do so, I request their arrest,” the quote from Paul said.