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Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia is reportedly under investigation by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) for her alleged role in promoting the “HPZ Token” platform, which is accused of defrauding investors through cryptocurrency schemes. Authorities are probing her potential endorsement of the scam and her promotion of illegal betting-linked IPL content. Bhatia’s involvement remains unclear, but the investigation is ongoing.
Bollywood Star Tamannaah Bhatia Questioned in Crypto Scam Investigation
India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) reportedly questioned Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia in Guwahati on Thursday over her alleged involvement with “HPZ Token,” a platform accused of defrauding investors through cryptocurrency mining.
The platform is under investigation for money laundering after allegedly promising large returns from bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which never materialized. Bhatia’s interrogation also addressed allegations related to illegal live broadcasting of Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches through an app linked to the Mahadev online betting platform.
Bhatia, 34, had previously been questioned in Maharashtra on similar charges. The ED looked into her promotion of the Fairplay betting app, which is being investigated for encouraging IPL match viewing tied to illegal betting. Reports suggest that Bhatia promoted IPL content on Fairplay, raising concerns about her role in supporting questionable activities. Investigators are also reviewing her appearance at an HPZ Token event, where she received an appearance fee, to determine whether her endorsement helped legitimize the platform, now alleged to be part of a scam.
The HPZ Token case began with an FIR (First Information Report) filed by the Cyber Crime Police Station in Kohima, Nagaland, which was later transferred to the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The platform reportedly lured investors with promises of daily returns on an initial investment of ₹57,000 ($678), but many investors were paid only once.
The ED has identified 299 entities in its investigation, including 76 controlled by Chinese nationals. While no incriminating evidence has been found against Bhatia, her involvement remains under investigation.
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