Pakistani YouTuber 'Ducky Bhai' arrested for promoting illegal betting apps

A well-known Pakistani YouTuber, Saad Ur Rehman, popularly known as Ducky Bhai, was arrested late Saturday night at Lahore’s international airport on charges of promoting illegal online betting platforms.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) said Rehman was detained while attempting to leave the country despite being on a government “Prohibited/National Interest List,” which bars individuals from traveling abroad.

According to an official police report, Rehman is accused of advertising online gambling apps, including 1XBet and Binimi, through his YouTube channel and other social media accounts. Pakistani authorities say such platforms are illegal under the country’s cybercrime and criminal codes.

The case was registered as FIR No. 196/25 under Pakistan’s Electronic Crimes Act, first passed in 2016 and amended earlier this year, and sections of the Penal Code related to obscenity and fraud. A mobile phone was confiscated during the arrest. The raid was led by NCCIA officers Shoaib Riaz, Yasir Ramzan, and Tahir, acting on a complaint filed by the state.

A local court has granted a two-day physical remand of Rehman to police for further investigation.

Who is Saad ur Rehman aka Ducky bhai?

Rehman, who has more than eight million subscribers, is one of Pakistan’s most prominent digital content creators. Known for his family vlogs, gaming content, and online controversies, he has a large following among young viewers. His arrest has drawn immediate attention across Pakistan’s online community.

Authorities have not disclosed further details about the case, and his family, including his wife Aroob, has not issued a public statement.

This is not the first time Rehman has faced scrutiny. In 2023, he and his wife were briefly detained after a firearm appeared in one of her Instagram posts, which police said violated public safety laws. They were released without charges after submitting written apologies.

The couple has also been involved in other controversies, including a deepfake video scandal targeting Aroob. At the time, they announced a reward of 1 million Pakistani rupees (around $3,600) for information about the perpetrator.

Rehman’s detention comes as Pakistan intensifies efforts to clamp down on cybercrime and regulate the country’s fast-growing digital space.