Madras HC issues notice to Virat Kohli, Saurav Ganguly for endorsing online fantasy league apps

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday issued notices to Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and BCCI Chief and former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly, for their involvement in online sports app advertisements, legal news website LiveLaw.in has reported.

The Bench of Justice N. Kirubakaran and Justice B. Pugalendhi has also issued the notices to actors Prakash Raj, Tammana Bhatia among others.

Notably, this order comes in a Petition, which has been moved in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court by one Mohammed Rizvi alleging that after losing money in such apps, some youth died by suicide in various parts of India.

The plea alleges that "Online gambling is plunging Indians into penury and forcing people to commit suicides in these trying times".

The Plea moved by the petitioner has impleaded the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Secretary, MEITY, Secretary UOI (Ministry of communication and information technology), the Home Secretary, state of Tamil Nadu, DGP of Tamil Nadu, Virat Kholi, Saurav Ganguly, Actors Prakash Raj, Tammanah Bhatia, Rana Duggubati and Sudeep and others as respondent parties

The govt. Respondents accepted notices, while for the private respondents, the Petitioner party was asked to serve them notices.

The plea states that, "Online games groups are working against the sovereignty of India. Both the Central and state governments are afraid to take action against the said online game groups. The governments have not taken any steps to investigate the source of funds and headquarters, origin of nation. The online games groups for their personal benefit misusing the young population of India. Hence it is just and necessary to conduct detail probe in the above matter and ban online games, erred groups, website and social network".

Specifically, the plea states that, "The television channels and social media networks airing the advertisement for promoting Online Games and gambling, the 10th (Virat Kohli) and 11th (Saurav Ganguly) Respondents are famous celebrity stars in the Indian cricket teams. And 12th to 15th Respondents (Prakash Raj, Tamannaah Bhatia, Rana Daggubati and Sudeep) are stars in the cine field."

The plea further states, "The 10th to 15th Respondents are promoting and endorsing unethical immoral online gambling, using their familiarities to promote online gambling. And they are harvesting money from online gambling business. The 10th to 15th Respondents hook innocent youngsters to play online gambling games".

The plea lists out the disadvantages of online games stating that it causes behavioural and mental changes, lack of other hobbies and poor academic performance, lethargic nature leading to weight gain. Gaming addiction can slow down brain growth and negatively affects eyesight and also results in insomnia.