Ramya sues channel for betting charge

Sandalwood actress Ramya has filed a criminal defamation case against a Kannada news channel for portraying her as a conduit of bookies.

The actress filed the complaint in the VIII additional chief metropolitan magistrate court against Suvarna News 24X7 regarding a programme it aired on May 31. The programme was about the alleged link of Sandalwood actresses with players and bookies involved in spot-fixing in the recently concluded Indian Premier League. The show was titled ‘Betting Raaniyaru’ (Betting Queens).

Ramya’s complaint states that the programme portrayed her as bookies’ conduit, who facilitated spot-fixing. She stated that she received a few phone calls after the programme was broadcast, asking if there was truth in the report.

Ramya was previously associated with the IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore in the capacity of its brand ambassador. In the complaint, she mentioned that she was not associated with any team in IPL 6 as she was busy campaigning for the Congress for the assembly poll. She said the channel used footage of the previous seasons of the IPL, when she was the Bangalore team’s brand ambassador, and gave the false impression that she was involved with the cricket tournament this year too.

The actress clarified that she attended only one IPL match this year, that too at the behest of the organisers on the day of the ‘green match’ to sign a cricket ball that was to be gifted to the winner of a contest.