Prakash Raj Says Cyclone Delayed His ED Day

Prakash Raj says cyclone delayed his ED day. Prakash Raj has informed the public that his scheduled day of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case may face delays due to the disruption caused by Cyclone Michaung in Chennai. The ED had summoned the National Award-winning actor in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged ₹100-crore ponzi and fraud case involving a Tiruchirapalli-based jewellery group.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Prakash Raj shared a screenshot of an announcement from Chennai airport, indicating closure due to adverse weather conditions caused by Cyclone Michaung. In the caption, he expressed regret to his followers, playfully referring to them as "#panauti and #Bhakts" and explained that the ED day might be postponed due to the weather conditions. He urged everyone to stay tuned for updates.

The investigation revolves around Pranav Jewellers, a partnership firm in Tiruchirapalli, where the ED had conducted raids on November 20, seizing "unexplained" cash of ₹23.70 lakh and gold jewellery. Prakash Raj, being the brand ambassador of the company, is expected to depose before the ED in Chennai during the first week of December. The ED aims to record his statement and investigate certain financial transactions, including purported payments made by the company to Prakash Raj.

The ED case originates from an FIR by the Tamil Nadu Police Economic Offences Wing, accusing Pranav Jewellers and others of collecting ₹100 crore from the public through a fraudulent gold investment scheme. Prakash Raj, known for his roles in multiple film industries, especially Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil, has been an outspoken critic of the Bhartiya Janata Party and contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections unsuccessfully as an independent candidate.

The ED claimed that during the searches, various incriminating documents, unexplained cash, and gold jewelry were seized, and the investigation revealed the diversion of public funds to shell entities under the pretext of gold investments. Prakash Raj is set to appear in upcoming films like "Devara" and "Pushpa 2: The Rule."