Actor Leena Maria Paul's custodial interrogation extended for active role in money laundering case
New Delhi/IBNS: The custodial interrogation of actor Leena Maria Paul has been extended till October 23 in a money laundering case linked to extortion of Rs 200 crore from a businessman's wife, according to media reports.
According to an NDTV report, the Enforcement Directorate said that Leena Maria Paul was "not merely beneficiary of the proceeds of crime but apparently was playing an active role in movement of the proceeds of crime, its projection as untended money and was working in concert with main accused Sukesh Chandrashekar (her husband)".
"The fact that money was moved at her instructions how and where this money has emerged but trail is still incomplete... in case further police custody of the accused is not granted, the trail which is to be established shall go cold," the ED said.
Paul and her husband allegedly cheated former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's wife Aditi Singh, the report said.
An FIR was lodged by Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing after Aditi Singh complained that a man posing as a senior official of the Law Ministry in June last year had offered to get her incarcerated husband out of jail in return for money, the report stated.
Shivinder Singh was arrested in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd (RFL) in 2019.
According to the agency Leena Maria Paul laundered the proceeds of the crime through her company Nail Artistry which claimed to have done business to the tune of Rs.4.79 crore in Chennai, Rs.1.21 crore in Kochi.
Data from her three mobile phones is also to be retrieved, said the ED.
Leena Maria Paul has acted in a couple of movies, including John Abraham-starrer Madras Cafe.
Paul is "deliberately withholding information regarding the utilization of proceeds of crime" and is making statements contrary to the evidence so far collected, said the agency, according to the report.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.