Actor Prakash Raj has been called by the Enforcement Directorate to appear for questioning in a money laundering case related to a fraud and ponzi scheme that involves an estimated Rs 100 crore against a jewelry firm located in Tiruchirapalli, official sources said on Thursday.
The probe concerns a case against Pranav Jewellers, a Tiruchirapalli-based partnership firm that was raided on November 20 and where it was alleged that certain gold items and “unexplained” cash totaling Rs 23.70 lakh were taken.
Raj (58) has served as this company’s brand ambassador. Next week, in Chennai, he is scheduled to give a deposition before the federal agency. The actor, who has portrayed a variety of characters in South Indian and Hindi films, has been a vocal opponent of the BJP.
An FIR from the Tamil Nadu Police Economic Offenses Wing is the basis for the ED case.
The federal agency said in a statement on Wednesday that Pranav Jewellers and others allegedly obtained Rs 100 crore from the public under the pretense of a gold investment plan with the promise of large profits.
