Hyderabad, Aug 31: Tollywood director Puri Jagannadh appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in the Tollywood drugs case on Tuesday. According to the reports, the ED speeded up the investigation in the case and issued notices to several celebrities to attend the probe.
Earlier, Puri Jagannadh, who came to Hyderabad from Mumbai, has reached the ED office. It is said that the ED officials will grill director till evening today. There are also allegations that he was involved in money laundering. The ED sleuths will question the director about his association with Kelvin.
According to reports, Puri Jagannadh was summoned by the ED to probe financial transactions in the process of allegedly buying the drugs. The director arrived at the ED office at 10 am. Apart from Puri Jagannadh, actors Rakul Preet Singh, Rana Daggubati, Ravi Teja, Charmee Kaur, Navdeep, Mumaith Khan and others connected to Tollywood were summoned to appear before the ED between August 31 and September 22. The agency also summoned actor Tanish, Nandu and Ravi Teja’s driver Srinivas.
It is to mention here that the drug racket was being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Telangana Excise and Prohibition Department.
However, recently, the ED issued notices under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), dealing with “Powers of authorities regarding summons, production of documents and to give evidence, etc.” Reports suggest that the movement of drugs is being considered a scheduled offence under the PMLA, and therefore, falls under the jurisdiction of the ED.
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