According to a leading daily's report, the Enforcement Directorate has summoned top Tollywood celebrities in connection with the money laundering case in drug trafficking and consumption. Reportedly, the ED has summoned actress Rakul Preet Singh on September 6, actor Rana Daggubati on September 8, Telugu actor Ravi Teja on September 9 and director Puri Jagannadh on September 31. Apart from them, Charmee Kaur, Navdeep, Mumaith Khan, Tanish, Nandu, Tarun, Ravi Teja's driver Srinivas and an unidentified person working as general manager of F Club have been summoned too.
Back in 2017, the Telangana Excise and Prohibition Department had registered 12 cases after seizing drugs worth 30 lakh. Reportedly, charge sheets have been filed in 11 cases. "Around 12 cases were booked by Telangana Excise and Prohibition department and 11 charge sheets were filled. Mostly drug traffickers around eight persons were charge sheeted in the cases then. Most of them are lower-level drug traffickers. We have called excise officials as witnesses. Likewise, till we get evidence Tollywood celebrities will be considered as witnesses. Their names have figured in the investigation," an ED official was quoted by the daily.
Reportedly, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the excise department didn't take any action against the celebrities as they couldn't find enough evidence after questioning them. As per the daily's report, the SIT collected samples of hair and nail from 62 suspects but they are yet to reveal the results.
During the interrogation in 2017, the Tollywood celebrities denied having any role in the case.
(Source: Times Of India)