Lahore: Popular Pakistani YouTuber Saadur Rehman, widely known as Ducky Bhai arrested early Sunday morning at Allama Iqbal International Airport. According to officials, he was arrested by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on charges of promoting illegal online gambling and betting applications.
Following the arrest, Ducky Bhai was presented before a judicial magistrate the same afternoon, where the court approved a two-day remand. The NCCIA has been instructed to submit its investigation report on Tuesday, August 19.
FIR Registered Under Cybercrime and Penal Code
The official case was filed by the NCCIA Lahore at midnight on August 17. It includes multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, such as:
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Section 13: Electronic Forgery
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Section 14: Electronic Fraud
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Section 25: Spamming
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Section 26: Spoofing
Additionally, the FIR cites Section 294-B (Offering prize in connection with trade) and Section 420 (Cheating and fraud) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Allegations of Promoting Gambling Apps
The investigation dates back to June 13, when authorities received reports that several social media influencers were promoting gambling and betting apps for financial gain.
The FIR alleges that Ducky Bhai promoted apps including Binomo, 1xBet, Bet365, and B9 Game through his YouTube channel. At least 27 video links have been submitted as evidence, although many of them are no longer publicly available.
Authorities claim that thousands of people invested money in these apps after being influenced by the content, but eventually faced financial losses as the platforms failed to deliver promised returns.
Millions Collected Through Fraud
The FIR further notes that apps like Binomo collected millions of rupees from Pakistani users before disappearing without paying profits. Since these apps are not registered with any authority in Pakistan, investigators concluded that the public was scammed and misled.
Despite repeated summons, Rehman allegedly avoided inquiry proceedings, leading authorities to place his name on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).
Arrest at Lahore Airport
On August 16, the FIA Immigration wing informed NCCIA that Rehman had been intercepted at the Lahore airport while trying to travel abroad. He was detained after being flagged by the IBMS system.
During the initial investigation, his phone was confiscated. Authorities claim they recovered chat records and payment evidence linked to Binomo promotions, along with “misleading videos” about gambling apps.
Investigators further allege that Rehman was working as a country manager for Binomo without obtaining permission from Pakistani regulators such as the FBR or the State Bank of Pakistan.
