Posted: Updated: Fri, 11/18/22 12:21PM
On Thursday, ED officers questioned the film’s director, Puri Jagannadh, and actor-turned-producer Charmme Kaur.
Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is focusing on tracing the financing of the Hindi-Telugu film “Liger” following alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
On Thursday, ED officers questioned the film’s director, Puri Jagannadh, and actor-turned-producer Charmme Kaur.
They were asked about funding sources for “Liger,” starring Vijay Deverakonda, which opens in August.
American boxer Mike Tyson also made a cameo in an extended version of the film, which reportedly had a production budget of around Rs 1.25 crore.
The film, which stars Vijaya Deverakonda and Ananya Panday, has a major shoot in Las Vegas. However, it bombed at the box office.
The ED investigation came after Congressional Leader Bakka Judson filed a complaint about dubious funding of films.
Puri Jagannadh and Charmme Kaur spent more than 12 hours in the emergency room on Thursday. They were notified 15 days ago.
Bakka Judson once complained that even the politicians paid for the film. He claims investors have found it the easiest way to turn black money into white money.
According to reports, ED officials have questioned the director and producers on allegations that the film was produced from foreign investment of tens of crores in violation of FEMA’s regulations.
The investigative agency suspects that several companies transferred funds into the filmmakers’ accounts. They were asked to provide details of who sent the money and how the payments were made to foreign actors including Mike Tyson and technicians.
This is the second time Puri Jagannadh and Charmee Kaur have appeared before ED. The agency questioned celebrities last year, along with other movie characters, about money charges in a drug case involving them.
Previously, the National Embargo Administration task force also questioned them after the case was filed in 2017.
