Actor Tamannaah Bhatia, who made waves with her recent cameo in Stree 2, is in the news again — but for a very unexpected reason this time.
The actor was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Guwahati on Thursday in connection with a high-profile money laundering case involving the ‘HPZ Token’ mobile app, where several investors were allegedly duped on the pretext of cryptocurrency mining. The 34-year-old actor’s statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Bhatia allegedly received payments for making a "celebrity appearance" at an event linked to the app, though there were no incriminating charges against her. Initially called for questioning earlier, she deferred the summons due to professional commitments but appeared on Thursday, as per PTI.
The money laundering probe is tied to an FIR filed by the cyber crimes unit of Kohima Police, where several accused were booked under the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act. The app in question, 'HPZ Token,' was reportedly used to deceive investors by promising hefty returns on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency mining. For an investment of ₹57,000, investors were promised returns of ₹4,000 per day for three months, but payments were halted after the first round, and fresh funds were solicited.
The ED’s investigation uncovered 299 entities involved, including 76 Chinese-controlled entities, accused of creating "shell entities" to launder funds. The agency seized assets worth ₹455 crore following searches across the country.
This case is part of a broader crackdown on fraudulent online schemes and illegal betting tied to cryptocurrency investments.
(With inputs from sources)
