LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday set November 11 as the date for hearing the bail plea of YouTuber Saad Rehman, popularly known as Ducky Bhai.
Justice Farooq Haider will hear the plea. The Registrar’s Office has released the official cause list confirming the hearing date.
The court has issued notices to the National Crime and Cyber Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and sought the detailed case records.
In the petition, the NCCIA Lahore has been made party. The NCCIA initiated action after the app was found to be involved in fraudulent activities and online betting, leading to significant public losses.
Ducky Bhai was arrested, while his wife, Arooba Jatoi, secured interim bail. The couple has denied any involvement in illegal promotions, claiming they were unaware of the app’s fraudulent nature.
Authorities, however, maintain that influencers received payments for endorsing the app, and investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of financial transactions and responsibility in the scam.
Ducky Bhai was arrested at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on August 17 on charges of promoting platforms such as Binomo, 1xBet, Bet365, and B9 Game via his YouTube channel.
The case was registered by the state 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 inducing delivery of property) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The development has sent ripples through Pakistan’s digital community as authorities tighten scrutiny of influencer-driven promotions.
Reports suggest that the agency has summoned several more YouTubers for questioning.
With millions relying on YouTubers and TikTok stars for lifestyle, entertainment, and even financial guidance, the scandal underscores the urgent need for clear guidelines on influencer marketing and advertising ethics.
