Ducky Bhai Arrested at Lahore Airport in Online Gambling Case
In a major development from Lahore, popular YouTuber Saadur Rehman, widely known as Ducky Bhai, was arrested early Sunday at Allama Iqbal International Airport. The arrest came after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) filed a case against him for allegedly promoting online gambling and betting applications.
Case Details
The FIR was registered at midnight on August 17 by the state through the NCCIA Lahore, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. The charges include:
- Section 13: Electronic Forgery
- Section 14: Electronic Fraud
- Section 25: Spamming
- Section 26: Spoofing
- Section 294-B: Offering Prize in Trade
- Section 420: Cheating and Dishonest Inducement
According to the FIR, the case originated from a June 13 inquiry based on information that certain influencers were promoting gambling platforms for monetary gain.
Allegations
The FIR states that Ducky Bhai promoted multiple gambling and betting apps such as Binomo, 1xBet, Bet 365, and B9 Game through his YouTube channel. A total of 27 video links have been listed in the FIR, some of which are no longer available.
It adds that public investments in these apps led to financial losses, as users reportedly did not receive promised returns. The investigation also notes that these applications were not registered in Pakistan.
The Arrest
Authorities placed Rehman’s name on the Provisional National Identification List after he allegedly failed to appear for inquiry proceedings. On August 16, the FIA Immigration detained him at Lahore airport while he was attempting to leave the country.
His phone was seized, with investigators claiming to have found:
- Chats linked to Binomo promotions
- Evidence of illegitimate payments
- Videos considered to be misleading
The FIR further states that Rehman was acting as a country manager for Binomo without any authorization from the State Bank of Pakistan or FBR.
What’s Next?
Rehman is expected to be presented before a local court in Lahore on Monday as authorities seek his remand for further investigation.
