The Lahore High Court (LHC) Wednesday constituted a new bench to hear the bail petition of YouTuber Saadur Rehman, popularly known as Ducky Bhai, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry will take up the case on November 17, following Justice Farooq Haider recused himself.
According to court sources, Justice Farooq Haider had expressed his inability to proceed with the case and subsequently referred the file to the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, who approved the formation of a new bench.
The bail petition made party the National Crime and Cyber Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Lahore.
The court issued notices to the NCCIA and sought a detailed reply regarding the allegations against the YouTuber.
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.
Reporter: Malik Ashraf