Tamannaah Bhatia quizzed by ED in Guwahati over cryptocurrency scam

Actor Tamannaah Bhatia was recently questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Guwahati regarding a money laundering case associated with a mobile app. The ED is investigating the 'HPZ Token' app, accused of deceiving numerous investors in Assam by falsely promising profits through Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency mining.

Bhatia allegedly received funds for a "celebrity appearance" at an event organized by the company behind the app to promote it. However, ED officials clarified that no incriminating charges have been brought against her. The 34-year-old actor's statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the ED’s zonal office in Guwahati. Though she had initially requested to defer the summons due to work commitments, she appeared before the agency on Thursday.

The HPZ token cryptocurrency scam was a fraudulent scheme operated through an app-based token called "HPZ." It promised users significant returns on investments in cryptocurrency mining, particularly Bitcoin and other digital currencies. The scheme lured victims with the promise of doubling their investments. However, after initial payouts, the scam operators ceased payments, and the platform became inaccessible.

Investigations by the ED and CBI revealed that entities behind the HPZ token, such as Shigoo Technology and Lillion Technocab, were involved in money laundering activities. These entities were connected to Chinese-controlled companies and were also running unregistered gaming apps. The investigation has revealed the alleged involvement of 299 accused individuals and entities in the scam, including 76 Chinese-controlled entities, 10 of whose directors are of Chinese origin, and two other entities controlled by foreign nationals.

The ED has seized or frozen large sums of money, amounting to hundreds of crores, from various bank accounts and payment gateways like Razorpay, EaseBuzz, and Paytm, connected to the scam. The authorities continue to investigate this multi-layered fraud under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The probe was initiated based on an FIR registered by the Cyber Crime Police Station in Kohima, Nagaland, for alleged cheating of gullible investors through the app.