ED questions Tollywood director Puri Jagannadh for 10 hours

Hyderabad, Aug 31 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned leading Telugu film director Puri Jagannadh for nearly 10 hours on Tuesday in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to a four-year-old drug case.

Jagannadh, who, along with his chartered accountant, appeared before ED officials after he was summoned in connection with the probe, left the ED office Tuesday night.

The ED officials are reported to have recorded the director's statement and quizzed him about some financial transactions.

Producer Bandla Ganesh also arrived at the ED office in the evening, triggering speculations that he too was summoned. He, however, clarified that he came to the ED office only to meet his friend Jagannadh but was not allowed. He requested media not to link him with the case.

The ED last week issued notices to 10 persons connected to Tollywood and two others including a private club manager as part of a money laundering probe linked to the drugs racket.

Actors Rakul Preet Singh, Rana Daggubati, Ravi Teja, Charmee Kaur, Navdeep, Mumaith Khan, and Jagnnadh have been asked to appear before ED between August 31 and September 22.

Tanish, Nandu, and actor Ravi Teja's driver Srinivas are also among those summoned.

The questioning is likely to bring to light new facts about the drugs racket which was busted with the arrest of drug peddlers in 2017.

Before beginning the questioning of Tollywood personalities, the ED gathered details of the investigations conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Telangana's Prohibition and Excise Department.

The questioning by the ED has brought the focus back on the case, which was in cold storage and was even considered dead by many due to the clean chit given by SIT to the film personalities.