The Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued notices to Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli and two other celebrities in connection with a petition seeking a ban on online rummy games.
Kerala HC Notices Virat Kohli for endorsing Online Rummy
Besides Kohli, a division bench, headed by Chief Justice S Manikumar, also issued notices to Malayalam actor Aju Varghese and South Indian actress Tamanna Bhatia.
The petition by Kochi-based Pauly Vadakkan argues that online rummy games are against the law and difficult to control. It says certain platforms running such games are using celebrities to endorse them in a bid to attract the youth and trap them financially.
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli, actors Thammanna and Aju Vargheese on a petition seeking ban on online rummy after victims alleged brand ambassadors play a significant role in getting youth addicted.🙄😈🤣
— Nakshatra 🇨🇦🇦🇪🇮🇹🇨🇭🇮🇳🇺🇸🇬🇧🇫🇷🇶🇦 (@WintersDew_) January 27, 2021
Case filed by Pauly Vadakkan
Petitioner Pauly Vadakkan alleged online gambling is now a growing menace in the state and the primary targets will be middle to low-income group people who will be enticed to make easy money.
People who fall to the fraud platforms often use what is left in their life savings, he said.
The petitioner said there have been many reported cases across the state in which people have got scammed.
Referring to the recent alleged death by suicide of a 28-year-old man, an ISRO employee hailing from Kattakkada in Thiruvananthapuram district, the petitioner said the man had fallen into the trap of online rummy game and pushed himself to debt of Rs 21 lakh.
Finding no means to repay the debt, he took his life, the petitioner alleged.
In Andhra Pradesh, an ordinance has been promulgated to bring online gambling activities within the purview of the existing gaming legislation, the petitioner said.
The court sent notices to Play Games 24*7 and Mobile Premier League which purportedly run rummy games. Kohli is the brand ambassador of the Mobile Premier League and Tamannaah has acted in an advertisement. Malayalam actor Varghese has endorsed the rummy circle.
