The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned acclaimed actor Prakash Raj for questioning in connection to a money laundering case linked to an alleged ₹100-crore ponzi and fraud scheme. The actor, however, has hinted at a potential delay in his scheduled ED appearance due to the impact of Cyclone Michaung in Chennai, where the investigative operations are based.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Prakash Raj shared a screenshot of an announcement from Chennai airport, indicating its closure until 9 am on the following day due to adverse weather conditions caused by Cyclone Michaung and the subsequent heavy rains in Chennai. In the caption, he expressed regret to his followers, humorously referring to them as "#panauti" and "#Bhakts," and mentioned the possibility of a postponement of his "ED day."
The ED has called Prakash Raj for questioning in connection to a money laundering case associated with an alleged ₹100-crore ponzi and fraud case against Pranav Jewellers, a partnership firm based in Tiruchirapalli. The ED had conducted a raid on November 20, during which they claimed to have seized "unexplained" cash amounting to ₹23.70 lakh and some gold jewelry.
Prakash Raj, aged 58 and a National Award-winning actor, has served as a brand ambassador for Pranav Jewellers. He is expected to appear before the federal agency in Chennai during the first week of December. The ED's interest lies in recording his statement and understanding specific payments made by the jewelry firm to the actor-politician, along with other financial transactions.
Known for his work in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil cinema, Prakash Raj has been a vocal critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2019, he contested the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from the Bengaluru Central seat but was unsuccessful.
The origin of the ED case can be traced back to an FIR filed by the Tamil Nadu Police Economic Offences Wing. According to the police complaint, Pranav Jewellers and associates allegedly collected ₹100 crore from the public under the guise of a gold investment scheme, promising high returns. The firm failed to return the invested amount, diverting public funds to shell entities and entry providers.
The ED's statement noted that during the searches at Pranav Jewellers, incriminating documents, unexplained cash totaling ₹23.70 lakh, and 11.60 kg of bullion and gold jewelry were seized. The investigation has revealed that supplier parties in the jewelry firm's books were entry providers who admitted to providing adjustment and bogus accommodation entries totaling over ₹100 crore. Additionally, they confessed to giving cash to the accused persons instead of bank payments.
Despite the serious allegations and the ongoing investigation, Prakash Raj remains active in his acting career and is set to appear in upcoming films, including "Devara" and "Pushpa 2: The Rule." The delay in his ED questioning, attributed to the impact of Cyclone Michaung, adds an unexpected twist to the unfolding legal saga surrounding the actor and the alleged financial irregularities linked to Pranav Jewellers.