Actor Rajpal Yadav questioned over Speak Asia scam

Economic Offences Wing, which is probing the Rs 2,200-cr scam, quizzed the actor about a film that was partly financed by two absconding Speak Asia officials

Posted On Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 09:56:19 AM

Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav was summoned by the Mumbai police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in connection with the Speak Asia scam on Monday. For nearly an hour, investigators quizzed him about a small-budget film featuring him, Jeeyo Raja Phantom, which they suspect was partly financed by two brothers wanted in the Rs 2,200-crore scam. Absconding Speak Asia official Ram Niwas Pal and his brother, Ram Sumrin Pal, allegedly invested Rs 2.5 crore of the scam money in the movie, which is awaiting release. Sources in the EOW said that Ram Niwas Pal knew Yadav before the film was made, and the actor was questioned to ascertain how the former channelled the money to the producers. They added that the agency would not try to stall the release of the film, but it had asked the producers not to recover their share once it hit the theatres. “We have told the producers not to withdraw the earnings generated from the film as the money is part of the scam,” the sources said. 18-month-old case For more than 18 months now, the EOW has been probing the scam, which involved a fraudulent marketing scheme. Some of the top bosses of Speak Asia are absconding, including Ram Niwas Pal and his brother. Yadav, known mostly for his comic roles, was summoned to the EOW’s office at the police commissioner’s chambers. Additional Police Commissioner (EOW) Rajvardhan confirmed that investigators had questioned the actor and recorded his statement. ‘I was called for clarifications’ When Mirror contacted Yadav, he tried to play down the issue. “I play a role in the film, but I have not collected my fees yet. The EOW needed some clarifications, which I have given. The matter has been sorted out,” he said. He also confirmed that investigators had asked the producers not to expend the scam money invested in the movie. Ram Niwas Pal is one of the key functionaries of Speak Asia, a multilevel investment scheme which allegedly cheated lakhs of investors. A former IAF airman, he was last seen in Mumbai a year ago when cops arrested Speak Asia top boss Tarak Bajpayi. He is believed to have fled the city that day itself. His SUV has been confiscated by the EOW.  Scam money in movies Absconding Speak Asia official Ram Niwas Pal and his brother, Ram Sumrin Pal, allegedly invested Rs 2.5 crore of the scam money in small-budget movie Jeeyo Raja Phantom, which features Yadav and is awaiting release. Sources in Economic Offences Wing say that Ram Niwas Pal knew Yadav before the film was made. The agency questioned the actor to ascertain how Ram Niwas Pal channelled the money to the producers. While investigators do not plan to block the film’s release, they have asked the producers not to recover their share once it hits the theatres.