ED Summons Actor Prakash Raj in Rs 100 Crore Ponzi Scam Probe

Chennai: Renowned actor Prakash Raj on Thursday received summons from the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money launder case. The critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been asked to appear before it in Chennai next week. 

The case is linked to the partnership firm Pranav Jewellers which was raided by the federal probe agency in connection with the alleged Ponzi scheme on Monday. 

According to reports, the partnership firm lured people with the gold investment scheme while promising high returns and collected Rs 100 crore from them. The actor is ‘under the ED scanner’ as he was the brand ambassador for Pranav Jewellers. 

“Investigation revealed that Pranav Jewellers and other connected persons cheated the public by diverting public funds to shell entities/entry providers under the garb of purchase of bullion/gold ornaments,” the ED said in a statement released on Wednesday. 

The probe agency has carried out raids on Pranav Jewellers based on a FIR filed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Trichy. The entity failed to return the amount to their investors, it alleged. 

“During the searches, various incriminating documents, unexplained cash of Rs 23.70 lakh, bullion and gold jewellery weighing 11.60 kg was seized,” the statement added. 

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