Actress Tamannaah Bhatia was questioned by law enforcement in connection with a money laundering investigation related to the ‘HPZ Token’ mobile app, which allegedly defrauded several investors under the guise of mining Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, according to official sources.
The Enforcement Directorate stated that the 34-year-old actress’s statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at its zonal office.
Sources revealed that Bhatia received funds for making a “celebrity appearance” at an event hosted by the app company, and there were no “incriminating” allegations against her.
She had previously been summoned but postponed her appearance due to work commitments and chose to attend on Thursday.
A total of 299 entities, including 76 controlled by Chinese interests, have been named as accused in the charge sheet filed by the ED in March. This includes 10 directors of Chinese origin and two entities managed by other foreign nationals.
The money laundering case originated from an FIR filed by the cyber crimes unit of Kohima Police, which booked several individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act for allegedly misleading “gullible” investors with promises of high returns from Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency mining.
The police reported that the ‘HPZ Token’ mobile app was used by the accused to “cheat” investors.
The agency noted that bank accounts and merchant IDs were opened by various “shell entities” with “dummy” directors to facilitate the “layering” of the proceeds of crime. These funds were allegedly obtained fraudulently through illegal online gaming, betting, and investment for Bitcoin mining, the agency claimed.
