What Happened During the ED's Questioning of Malayalam Actor Jayasurya?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Investigations into the Save Box app are intensifying.
- Jayasurya's involvement as a brand ambassador is under scrutiny.
- The case highlights potential risks of celebrity endorsements.
- Public awareness of financial fraud is critical.
- Compliance with FEMA regulations is essential for financial entities.
Kochi, Dec 29 (NationPress) Malayalam film actor and producer Jayasurya attended a session with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its zonal office in Kochi on Monday, as part of an ongoing inquiry into alleged breaches of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) associated with the contentious Save Box app fraud case.
This questioning was the second instance in which the actor was called by the central agency within a week.
Jayasurya, aged 47, arrived at the ED office at approximately 10:30 a.m. alongside his wife Saritha, and underwent questioning that lasted nearly five hours.
While the actor's interrogation concluded by late Monday afternoon, reports suggest that Saritha's examination by the agency persisted into the evening.
The ED is investigating the financial transactions and monetary flows related to the Save Box mobile application, which is under scrutiny for allegedly deceiving investors with promises of substantial returns.
Jayasurya is believed to have had a role as the app's brand ambassador, a position that is now being scrutinized to determine if celebrity endorsements were exploited to provide legitimacy to the platform and lure deposits from the public.
The primary goal of Monday's interrogation was to clarify the nature of the actor's contractual agreement with the Save Box app, the payment received, and whether there were any FEMA violations regarding payments, endorsements, or promotional efforts.
The agency is also looking into whether the actor or any of his production companies had financial engagements beyond promotional contracts with entities associated with the app.
Last week, the ED had similarly interrogated Jayasurya as part of the ongoing investigation, indicating that officials are piecing together a comprehensive understanding of how the alleged fraud was marketed and profited from.
The Save Box app case has garnered considerable public attention in Kerala, given the supposed scale of losses experienced by investors and the involvement of prominent public figures.
The ED's investigation is running concurrently with inquiries by other agencies into criminal and regulatory infringements related to the app's operations.