Tamannaah Bhatia Questioned by ED for 8 Hours in Money Laundering Case Linked to ‘HPZ Token’ Mobile App

Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Guwahati on Thursday, October 18, 2024, in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to the ‘HPZ Token’ mobile app.

Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Guwahati on Thursday, October 18, in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to the ‘HPZ Token’ mobile app. The app is alleged to have duped investors under the pretext of mining Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies.

The ED’s probe stems from an FIR registered by the Cyber Crime Police Station in Kohima, Nagaland. The FIR accuses various entities of defrauding investors by promising high returns on investments in cryptocurrency mining. The ED has identified 299 entities involved in the scam, including 76 Chinese-controlled entities.

Tamannaah Bhatia was reportedly questioned for over two hours. Sources close to the investigation revealed that she had received funds for making a “celebrity appearance” at an event organized by the app company. However, there are no incriminating charges against her at this stage.

An official from the ED stated, “Ms. Bhatia cooperated fully with the investigation and provided all necessary information. Her statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)”.

The ‘HPZ Token’ app allegedly lured investors by promising returns of ₹4,000 per day for three months on an investment of ₹57,000. However, the promised returns were paid only once, and the investors were subsequently asked to invest more money. The ED has conducted country-wide searches, leading to the seizure of assets and deposits worth ₹455 crore.

The news of Tamannaah Bhatia’s questioning has sparked significant public interest. A tweet by a user read, “Shocking to see Tamannaah Bhatia involved in such a case. Hope the truth comes out soon!”.

While Bhatia’s team has not issued an official statement, sources close to the actress suggest that she is fully cooperating with the authorities and is confident that her name will be cleared.