Tamannaah Bhatia questioned by ED in money laundering case linked to mobile app

Actor Tamannaah Bhatia was questioned by the ED in connection with a money laundering case probe on Thursday. The case pertains to the 'HPZ Token' mobile app that has been accused of duping investors on the pretext of mining cryptocurrencies. The probe agency said the 34-year-old actor recorded her statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act at its zonal office.

Sources however told PTI that there were no incriminating charges against the actor. She had reportedly received some funds for making a "celebrity appearance" at an event of the app company. Bhatia had previously deferred summons from the Enforcement Directorate due to work commitments.

299 entities — including 76 Chinese-controlled entities — have been named as accused in the charge sheet filed by the ED in March. 

The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the cyber crimes unit of Kohima Police that booked 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.

The ED has reportedly frozen assets worth over ₹176.67 crore and taken possession of ₹55.56 crore from bank accounts and merchant IDs associated with the scam.

The CBI had also searched more than 30 locations across 10 states and Union Territories in connection with the case in May this year. The probe agency had seized mobile phones, computer hard drives, SIM cards, ATM/debit cards, email accounts, and various documents during the raids.

The central agency had earlier registered a case against two entities known as Shigoo Technology Private Limited and Lillian Technocab Private Limited, and their directors. Reports in May indicated that the CBI had so far detected around 150 bank accounts related to the accused which were used to collect funds from the investors.

(With inputs from agencies