LAHORE (Web Desk) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued notices to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on a bail petition filed by YouTuber Saadur Rehman, popularly known as Ducky Bhai, in a case involving the alleged promotion of illegal gambling applications on his YouTube channel.
Justice Farooq Haider heard the petition, which contended that Rehman had not been served any prior notice or summons for inquiry before his arrest by the NCCIA. The plea stated that he was apprehended at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on August 17 while leaving the country to attend an event.
According to the FIR, the case was registered by the state through NCCIA Lahore under various sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, including sections 13 (Electronic Forgery), 14 (Electronic Fraud), 25 (Spamming), and 26 (Spoofing), as well as sections 294-B (Offering prize in connection with trade) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The complaint alleged that the public suffered financial losses after investing in gambling and betting applications such as 1xBet, Bet365, B9 Game, and Binomo, which Rehman purportedly promoted on his channel while acting as their country manager.
The petition noted that despite Rehman’s 22-day remand and previous bail rejections, two other suspects arrested alongside him — Subhan Sharif and Asad Nadeem Mughal — have already been released. His legal team requested that the court extend similar relief.
Justice Haider has directed the NCCIA to submit its response to the petition. Rehman’s latest bail plea was filed with the LHC on October 30, following earlier dismissals by a judicial magistrate and an additional sessions judge on September 22 and October 2, respectively.