Online Rummy: Tamannaah Bhatia, Virat Kohli Get Kerala HC Notice

Tamannaah Bhatia Virat Kohli Rummy Case: The Kerala High Court Wednesday served a notice to actor Tamannaah Bhatia in connection to a case seeking a ban on online rummy, for which she is the brand ambassador. The petitioner alleged the game, endorsed by celebrities, has caused much damage to the lives of players, resulting in loss of money and reportedly even death. Other public figures who have received notices for the same are actor Aju Varghese and cricketer Virat Kohli.

According to Telangana Today, a player was quoted appealing to the court, "The brand ambassadors indeed play a big role in attracting the gullible youth in playing this game which soon turns into an addiction. I had to seek professional medical help to come out of this addiction and the court must ban this game in India." In Thiruvananthapuram, another player died by suicide earlier this month allegedly after losing a big sum on online rummy. 

Kerala HC sends notices to Virat Kohli and actors Tamannaah Bhatia & Aju Varghese, who are the brand ambassadors of Online Rummy games, in connection with a petition seeking legal prohibition on online rummy games. Court also asks for a reply from the State Govt on this. pic.twitter.com/TNYHdw2cF8

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2021

Bhatia, who recently wrapped up shoot for her upcoming project November Story, has been named alongside Kohli and Varghese as having a hand in apparently influencing the youth towards rummy. There has been no statement on the matter until now by the said celebrities. 

Earlier in January, the state government of Tamil Nadu too took the step of banning online betting, citing related suicides and other crimes. According to TOI, this ruling came following a similar one in Telangana. The government was quoted saying, "Playing games like rummy and poker online for money or stakes, which are addictive in nature, have developed manifold. As a result, innocent people get cheated and incidents of suicides are reported."

Star of Telugu films like Baahubali, Bengal Tiger, Racha, and Thadaka, Bhatia informed fans and followers last year in October that she had been hospitalised after contracting COVID-19. Read about it here.