Money Laundering Case: The Enforcement Directorate said that the statement of Tamanna Bhatia (34) was recorded in the regional office of the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Through the app, many investors were allegedly duped on the pretext of offering exorbitant returns in the form of 'Bitcoin' and some other 'cryptocurrencies'.
Tamanna Bhatia has not been made an accused in the case
Tamannaah Bhatia had received some money for appearing as a celebrity in an event of the app company and there is no allegation of her involvement in the case. The actress was called for questioning earlier too, but she had postponed it due to work and decided to appear on Thursday. In the charge sheet filed by the ED in March, a total of 299 entities have been named as accused in the case, of which 76 are China-controlled entities, of which 10 directors are of Chinese origin while two entities are controlled by other foreign nationals. These people have been named accused in the ED chargesheet filed in March this year.
People were made victims of fraud through the app.
This money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Cyber Crime Cell of Kohima Police, in which a case has been registered against various accused under sections of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act. These accused are accused of duping innocent investors by promising exorbitant returns in the form of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Police said that the accused had used 'HPZ Token' mobile phone application (app) to cheat investors. The agency said that bank accounts and merchant IDs were opened by various fake companies with fake directors with the aim of hiding the proceeds of crime.
A return of Rs 4000 per day was promised on an investment of Rs 57,000.
Claimed that these funds were fraudulently obtained for illegal online gaming and betting and for investment to generate Bitcoins. The ED said an investment of Rs 57,000 was promised a return of Rs 4,000 per day for three months, but the money was paid only once. ED said that raids were conducted across the country in this case, which resulted in the seizure of immovable properties and bank deposits worth Rs 455 crore.