Security Increased at SRK's Home Over Endorsement of Online Gaming Apps

Mumbai: Opposition to online games is growing in Maharashtra with an independent MLA Bacchu Kadu threatening to serve a legal notice to cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for the latter’s endorsement of online gaming apps. The warning has come after Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan witnessed protests against him for the same reason, leading the Mumbai police to heighten security around his residence Mannat.

Kadu has criticised Tendulkar for his endorsement of online gaming apps contending that such apps foster addictive behaviours among young individuals, leading to substantial financial losses. He had earlier made an appeal in which he had said that Tendulkar being "Bharat Ratna" (India's highest civilian award) should not participate in such commercials or promote betting.

"Sachin Tendulkar is Bharat Ratna. It is not right for a person who has numerous fans and Bharat Ratna to advertise a gambling app like Paytm First. I request the Maharashtra Government and Sachin Tendulkar to please ban this ad immediately,” he had said on Twitter.

Kadu said that they had earlier given time to Tendulkar to reply to their appeal asking for withdrawing from the Paytm First Game promotional campaign. However, as there has been no reply from the cricketer on the issue, he was forced to send a legal notice, he added.

Meanwhile, anti-online gaming apps activists held protests outside Shah Rukh Khan's residence, Mannat, prompting heavy police presence in the area. The demonstrators voiced their opposition to celebrities endorsing online gaming apps, asserting that such endorsements misguide and corrupt the younger generation.

The protests were organised by the Untouch Youth Foundation, targeting online gaming apps like Junglee Rummy and Zupee. The organisation's official statement said that the role of famous actors and actresses in such advertisements lead to societal misguidance.

“Famous actors and actresses work in these advertisements and they are working towards misguiding society. The protest will be held outside Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat bungalow on behalf of the Untouch India Foundation. The new generation is involved in playing Junglee Rummy. If someone is playing Junglee Rummy or gambling outside, the police arrest them, but big Bollywood stars promoting online games are misleading the young generation," Krishchandra Adal, President of Untouch India Foundation, stated.