Court indicts YouTuber Ducky Bhai, wife in online gambling promotion case

LAHORE: A Lahore court has formally indicted prominent YouTuber Saad-ur-Rehman, widely known as Ducky Bhai, and his wife Aroob Jatoi on charges of promoting online gambling through social media content.

The indictment was handed down during a hearing presided over by Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo, where Ducky Bhai, his wife and other co-accused appeared before the court. All accused pleaded not guilty. The court has summoned prosecution witnesses to record their statements at the next hearing scheduled for February 23.

The case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which alleges that the accused used their digital platforms to advertise and promote multiple online gambling applications. Investigators claim the content caused financial losses, particularly among young users.

Ducky Bhai is among Pakistan’s most-followed digital creators, boasting millions of subscribers across platforms. He was taken into custody in August 2025 before being granted conditional bail by the Lahore High Court.

The indictment follows earlier legal setbacks for the YouTuber. In December 2025, a Lahore district court rejected his plea to regain control of his YouTube channel and mobile phones, which were seized as part of the ongoing investigation. The court did, however, order the return of several personal items, including bank cards, identity documents, a GoPro camera and other belongings.

During that hearing, prosecutors told the court that eight videos had been uploaded to Ducky Bhai’s channel despite the account being under investigation. NCCIA officials raised concerns that evidence-linked content could be altered or deleted. Ducky Bhai submitted an affidavit assuring the court that no videos would be tampered with, stating that the uploads were handled by his editor based in Hyderabad.

While the court allowed partial relief through the return of personal property, access to the YouTube channel remains restricted as the case proceeds.

The indictment marks a significant development in one of Pakistan’s most closely watched cases involving social media influencers and alleged digital crime.