WEBDESK: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has summoned YouTuber Rajab Butt on September 9 over allegations of promoting online gambling apps.
Butt, one of Pakistan’s most-followed YouTubers, has previously drawn controversy, including for briefly keeping a lion cub. The NCCIA notice accuses him of encouraging young people to invest in online gambling apps, promoting unlicensed trading platforms on social media, and misleading the public through a scheme designed to steal money.
The agency directed Butt to appear in person at its Lahore office on Tuesday morning to record his statement. It warned that failure to attend would be taken as an admission that he has nothing to say in his defence.
Rajab Butt’s lawyer, Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq, said the case is being reviewed from all angles and a written reply will be submitted on September 9. “Rajab Butt will defend himself fully in accordance with the law,” he added.
The summons comes weeks after YouTuber Saad-ur-Rehman, also known as Ducky Bhai, was arrested at Lahore Airport in connection with the promotion of gambling and betting applications. He remains in custody, with investigators extending his remand for three more days.
The case was registered by the NCCIA Lahore on August 17 around midnight under Sections 13 (Electronic Forgery), 14 (Electronic Fraud), 25 (Spamming) and 26 (Spoofing) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 as well as sections 294 B (Offering prize in connection with trade) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducting delivery of property) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Official documents also show that influencers Iqra Kanwal and Muhammad Anas Ali have been summoned for questioning on the same date.
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