Ducky Bhai approaches LHC for bail in gambling apps case

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to submit its response to a bail petition filed by YouTuber Saadur Rehman, widely known as Ducky Bhai, in a case related to the alleged promotion of illegal gambling applications on his YouTube channel.

Justice Farooq Haider heard the plea. The petition states that the YouTuber had not received any notice or summons for inquiry regarding the alleged promotion of illegal apps by online influencers before his arrest. He was detained by NCCIA officials at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on August 17 while preparing to travel abroad for an event, it adds.

The petition noted that although Rehman was kept in NCCIA custody for 22 days and his earlier bail pleas were rejected, two other individuals arrested alongside him, Subhan Sharif and Asad Nadeem Mughal, have already been released. His legal team argued that he should be granted bail on similar grounds.

Justice Haider directed the NCCIA to submit its response in the case.

The petitioner's counsel filed the current petition with the LHC on October 30, following the dismissal of earlier bail applications before a judicial magistrate and an additional sessions judge on September 22 and October 2, respectively.

According to the FIR, the complaint alleged that Ducky Bhai promoted several online gambling and betting platforms—such as 1xBet, Bet365, B9 Game, and Binomo—and claimed that many people suffered financial losses after investing in these schemes. The FIR also accused him of acting as a country representative for some of these platforms.