Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court today issued notice to all States in a petition filed by evangelist Dr. KA Paul seeking a ban on online and offline betting applications and on celebrity endorsements promoting them.

The Court also issued notice to Directorate of Enforcement, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Google India and Apple India that carry such apps on their app stores, as well as major betting platforms, namely, Dream 11 Fantasy Pvt. Ltd., Mobile Premier League (MPL), and A23 Games (Ace2Three).

A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed that the notices be made returnable in two weeks, and said that it would consider interim directions on the next date of hearing.

“Union of India is granted time of two weeks to file reply. It seems to us that it is desirable to issue notice to all the states. Consequently let notice be issued to all states through their respective Chief Secretaries. The notice be served on the standing counsel of the states who shall ensure to have instructions on the next date. Notice be also issued to respondent nos. 2 to 14 returnable on the same date. The parties shall be heard interim directions on 18^th August”, the Court stated in the order.

During the hearing, Dr. KA Paul, the petitioner appearing in person, said, “This is affecting youth more than the cigarettes put together, drugs put together. Because part of it is cricket. Celebrities are endorsing.”

The counsel for the Union of India informed the bench that a similar matter was listed for hearing at 2 PM in before another bench, where the Additional Solicitor General would be arguing. He suggested that the present petition may be tagged with that matter.

Dr. Paul opposed the suggestion, “My plea is very specific and different. Approximately 300 million youth's future is at stake. They are not prosecuted and held accountable.”

Justice Kant said the Court would give the Union of India one last opportunity to file their reply.

However, Dr. Paul requested that he be heard, informing the bench that he had to board a flight to Yemen at 4 PM. “I was in Yemen. I just came from Yemen from stopping the execution of Nimisha just this morning and 4 o'clock is my flight back. Graciously they postponed the execution. Here millions of lives are concerned,” he said.

Justice Kant replied, “But the satisfaction you must have gotten, feel happy and proud of that.”

Thanking Justice Kant, Paul continued to highlight the issue raised in the plea. “I want to graciously thank you. This is a very important issue. Out of 1100, only 25 in Telangana and 36 in Maharashtra are sent notices. More than 1000 are still endorsing. 178 apps (generally, not betting apps) have been banned. When so many apps are banned, why not simply… three steps I am seeking. Those who are endorsing, already millionaires and billionaire, should not take 1 crore to 10 crores to endorse illegal apps.”

To this, Justice Kant said, “Eventually we might agree with you.”

Paul submitted, “Only 4 out of 29 states are taking it seriously. And using VPN…The court may grant time to file reply, no problem. But in the meantime it should be directed that endorsement should not be done, Your Honour, and the media should not promote on television.”

Justice Kant expressed reluctance to issue any interim directions. “Instead of looking into interlocutory directions we will prioritise the final hearing. Sometimes we issue interim directions and there are a lot of repercussions. We will prioritise deciding the matter. Come to us and we will prioritise. We will give out-of-time hearing to your matter. Let them (states) file a reply, we will see whether they are supporting or opposing you, if supporting what steps they have taken.”

Dr Paul emphasised that the States were not taking any action. Referring to the Mahadev app, he said, “Mahadev app is banned but there are other apps that keep coming up. They are making billions, money laundering is taking place.”

Justice Kant said, “Anyway we are issuing notice to the states. Short time we will grant.”

Background

Earlier, on May 23, 2025, a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh had issued notice to the Union government on the plea. At that time, Dr Paul had submitted that online and offline betting apps had led to numerous suicides, and that celebrity endorsements were influencing youth. He cited over 1000 suicides in Telangana and said multiple FIRs had been filed against celebrities in the state.

Justice Kant had remarked that such issues could not be resolved solely through legislation. However, the Court agreed to seek a response from the Union when Dr Paul submitted that 300 million Indians were being “trapped illegally,” amounting to a violation of their Article 21 rights.

Dr Paul had also referred to Sachin Tendulkar's alleged endorsement of betting apps, saying that such acts misled millions. Justice Kant had responded, “Because he knows that in the name of watching IPL, there are thousands and thousands who are betting.”

At that stage, the Court had issued notice only to the Union, reserving the question of notice to states for later.

The reliefs sought by Dr Paul in the petition include a declaration that betting apps amount to gambling, immediate ban or regulation of such apps, criminal action against promoters and endorsers, and the constitution of a high-level committee to examine betting laws and their social impact. He has also sought blocking of foreign platforms, removal of such apps by tech companies, and consumer protection measures such as age restrictions and national helplines.

Case no. – W.P.(C) No. 299/2025

Case Title – Dr. K.A. Paul @ Kilari Anand v. Union of India and Ors.