A Lahore district court on Wednesday granted two-day physical remand of YouTuber Saad ur Rehman, widely known as Ducky Bhai, in a case linked to the promotion of gambling applications through online content. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had detained him in August at Lahore Airport as he attempted to leave the country. His name had been placed on the Provisional National Identification List, preventing him from travelling abroad while investigations were ongoing.
Court proceedings were briefly delayed before resuming when defence counsel Usman Mushtaq informed the bench that the accused wanted to make a statement. Ducky Bhai told the court he was satisfied with the investigation carried out so far and expressed his respect for state institutions, further adding that he had no objection to additional inquiries by authorities. The investigating officer requested a five-day remand, arguing that time was needed to recover digital devices and access his social media accounts relevant to the inquiry. However, the court allowed only a two-day remand and ordered that he be produced again on September 5.
The case against him stems from an FIR registered by NCCIA under provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, as well as the Pakistan Penal Code. The FIR was filed on August 17 under sections including 13 (Electronic Forgery), 14 (Electronic Fraud), 25 (Spamming) and 26 (Spoofing) of PECA, along with sections 294-B (Offering prize in connection with trade) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the PPC. According to investigators, the YouTuber allegedly promoted gambling and betting applications that misled users and generated millions of rupees in fraudulent schemes. The authorities claim that these platforms were advertised through his videos, enticing followers to participate in activities prohibited under local laws.
This is not the first time the popular content creator has faced legal challenges. Earlier this year, he was granted protective bail by the Lahore High Court in a reckless driving case. The controversy arose after a viral video circulated showing him purportedly driving on the motorway with his feet on the steering wheel while apparently sleeping, the car set on cruise control mode. The stunt drew widespread criticism online and was described by many as highly irresponsible and dangerous. Following the uproar, the National Highways and Motorway Police registered a case under relevant laws and later issued an awareness campaign warning the public against such acts.
As one of Pakistan’s most followed online figures, the current case has drawn significant public attention. With charges that include both electronic crimes and fraud under criminal law, investigators continue to examine the scale of financial losses and online reach of the gambling applications in question. The outcome of the proceedings will be closely watched, with the next hearing scheduled after the expiry of his two-day custody.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
