Guwahati: Actor Tamannaah Bhatia was questioned by the ED here on Thursday in connection with the investigation into a money laundering case related to the mobile app ‘HPZ Token’, in which several investors were allegedly duped on the pretext of mining bitcoins and some other cryptocurrencies, official sources said.
The Special Crimes Directorate said the statement of the 34-year-old actor was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at its zonal office here.
Sources said Bhatia received known funds for a “celebrity appearance” at an app company event and there were no “incriminating” allegations against her.
She was also summoned earlier, but she postponed the summons due to work and preferred to report on Thursday, they said.
A total of 299 companies, including 76 Chinese-controlled companies in which 10 directors are of Chinese origin while two companies are controlled by other foreign nationals, have been named as accused in the charge sheet filed by the ED in this case in March.
The money laundering case stems from an FIR by the Cyber Crime Cell of the Kohima Police, which charged various accused under sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act for allegedly duping “gullible” investors by promising astronomical returns by mining bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies.
Police said the mobile phone app ‘HPZ Token’ was used by the accused to ‘cheat’ investors.
The agency said bank accounts and merchant identification numbers were discovered by various “fictitious entities” having “fake” directors to “layer” the proceeds of crime.
These funds were “fraudulently” obtained for illegal online gaming and betting and investments for bitcoin mining, he alleged.
For an investment of Rs 57,000, a return of Rs 4,000 per day for three months was promised, but the money was disbursed only once and then the accused demanded fresh funds from the investors, the ED said.
Nationwide investigations were undertaken by the ED in this case, which led to the seizure of immovable assets and deposits worth Rs 455 crore, it said.
