YouTuber Harsha Sai booked for promoting betting apps; Sajjanar asks public to report such influencers

Hyderabad: Cyberabad Police have registered a case against YouTuber Harsha Sai Bandaram for promoting betting apps. In his complaint, the victim said that he was a helper in restaurants earning a monthly salary of Rs 18,000.

Influenced by the social media content of Harsha Sai through his Instagram and YouTube channel, he started following him in 2022.

This incident is the latest in a series of such cases being booked against social media influencers for promoting dangerous betting apps.

Senior IPS officer and TGSRTC managing director VC Sajjanar has called upon the public to unfollow and report the social media influencers promoting online betting apps. For the last few days, Sajjanar has been vocal about how betting applications and the influencers who support them can cause a financial catastrophe for a lot of young people.

Two cases of influencers being held accountable

Recently, the police in Telugu States have booked cases against YouTuber ‘Local Boy Nani’ (Visakhapatnam) and Bayya Sunny Yadav (Hyderabad) for promoting online betting apps, following a post kept by Sajjanar on his X account.

How Harsha Sai’s followers lost Rs 13 lakhs because of betting apps

Harsha Sai reportedly shared links to websites through Instagram stories, claiming that depositing Rs 20,000 via these links would yield a bonus of 150 per cent. Trusting his claims, the victim deposited money through links shared on Instagram and participated in an online game, expecting profits.

Additionally, Harsha Sai invited him to join a Telegram group called Harsha Sai Tips, where betting advice was provided.

Following his tips, the victim deposited substantial sums, ultimately losing Rs 13,67,300 over a year. The victim funded these transactions through savings, loans from friends, online borrowing apps and even by selling gold assets, leaving him unable to repay his debts.

Sajjanar recently shared a video in which Harsha Sai acknowledged recommending a betting app, exposing Sai’s involvement in its promotion. Harsha Sai defended his activities in a different interview, saying that marketing these apps was preferable to allowing illicit promoters to take control.

Harsha Sai even maintained that by doing this, he was shielding users from falling for scammers, especially on Telegram and similar networks. He added that the apps he endorses are not blocked.

In response, Sajjanar said, “I’m not just up against selective individuals—we, as a society, are battling an entire ecosystem of social media influencers who thrive on promoting betting apps. Whether they have millions of followers or just a few thousand, anyone endorsing these destructive platforms is not just misleading people but actively ruining lives.

The real danger goes beyond financial loss—it is the gradual erosion of our nation’s future. While Indian talent is leading global corporations, many young lives are being trapped and derailed by their own countrymen. These apps are not just a personal risk; they are a societal and economic menace, exploiting vulnerabilities and tearing families apart.

Before it is too late, recognise the deeper damage they cause—not just to your finances, but to your future, your family’s well-being, and the very fabric of our society.”