The Enforcement Directorate, which has quizzed several film personalities in Tollywood including actors and directors in September in connection with the money laundering case related to drug trafficking and consumption, is learnt to have kept a watch on the monetary transactions of these suspects.
According to sources in the investigation agency, the authorities are closely monitoring the accounts of these actors and directors, who were earlier quizzed in connection with the drugs case, which was initially busted in 2017.
Sources said the ED authorities are especially looking into large scale payments made by these film personalities to drug peddlers including the kingpin Kelvin, who was arrested by the police in the case.
During their interrogation, too, the ED authorities have reportedly asked the actors and directors as to why such huge amounts were paid to Kelvin.
They are learnt to have replied that they would make payments for providing them various facilities during the shootings conducted abroad.
Though the ED authorities have not taken their statements on their face value, they have let them off after questioning fir several hours starting from August 31 to September 15 due to lack of evidences.
“For now, the Tollywood personalities were questioned only as witnesses, but the ED authorities would keep a close watch on all their transactions hereafter,” sources said.
As many as 12 cases were booked by Telangana excise and prohibition department and 11 chargesheets were filed.
“Eight drug traffickers were chargesheeted in the cases in 2017. Most of them are lower-level drug traffickers. Tollywood celebrities were questioned only as witnesses,” an ED official said.
The special investigation team (SIT) of the excise department had not proceeded against the actors due to lack of evidence then though they were questioned. They were believed to have been given a clean chit.