Tollywood drugs case: Actor Tarun Kumar appears before Enforcement Directorate

The Enforcement Directorate's probe in connection with a money laundering probe linked to four-year-old drugs case allegedly involving some Tollywood personalities entered the final phase with actor Tarun Kumar on Wednesday appearing before the central agency. He reached the ED's zonal office here around 10 a.m. in response to the notice served by the agency last month.

The ED sleuths are likely to question him about suspicious financial transactions, whether he knows Calvin Mascarenhas, a musician and prime accused in the case and if he ever attended parties held at 'F' Club.

Tarun is the 10th person from Telugu film industry to appear before the ED since it began questioning on August 31 in money laundering probe in connection with a high-end drugs racket busted by Telangana's prohibition and excise department.

So far the central agency has questioned director Puri Jagannadh and actors Charmee Kaur, Rakul Preet Singh, Nandu, Daggubati Rana, Ravi Teja, Navdeep, Mumaith Khan and Tanish. It also grilled Ravi Teja's driver and aide Srinivas and a former general manager of 'F' Club.

The questioning was believed to be around their suspicious financial transactions with those involved in drug case.

The ED had last month issued notices to about a dozen people connected to Tollywood as part of a money laundering probe linked to the case related to the smuggling of 'Class A' narcotic substances, including LSD and MDMA.

The ED officials have been summoning Calvin Mascarenhas and other accused for questioning parallel to the questioning of Tollywood personalities.

The drugs racket was busted on July 2, 2017 when customs officials arrested Calvin Mascarenhas, a musician, and two others and seized drugs worth Rs 30 lakh from their possession. (IANS)

Also Read: Tollywood drugs case: Actress Mumaith Khan appears before Enforcement Directorate (ED)

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