Odisha police may question actor Govinda in alleged fake cryptocurrency case

The actor had attended Solar Techno Alliance’s (STA-Token), a multi-level marketing scheme, grand function in Goa in July and promoted the company in some videos

Published on: Sep 15, 2023, 09:54:47 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha police may interrogate Bollywood actor Govinda in connection with a ₹1,000 crore fake cryptocurrency scam.

The EOW had last month busted the fake cryptocurrency scheme arresting the mastermind. (PTI file photo)

Officials of Economic Offences Wing of Odisha police said the actor, who had attended a promotional event of Solar Techno Alliance (STA-Token), a multi-level marketing scheme which advertised itself as a cryptocurrency, in Goa on July 30 may be summoned.

“We may summon him to Bhubaneswar for interrogation or a team may visit him in Mumbai to question him about this association STA’s grand function in Goa. Govinda had released a promo in July and promoted the company in some videos,” said EOW deputy superintendent of police Sasmita Sahoo.

“His exact role in the case can be ascertained only after investigation. He may be made a witness in the case”, she added.

Also Read: Police unearth ₹30-crore crypto scam

The EOW had last month busted the fake cryptocurrency scheme STA and arrested the 40-year-old mastermind Gurtej Singh Sidhu, a 40-year-old man from Punjab.

Unlike the popular cryptocurrencies, STA actually worked like a multi level marketing scheme where new investors were supposed to get new investors to keep it running.

Investors were promised that they would earn between $20 to $3,000 per day if they joined the scheme and get STA Crypto Tokens which they can hold for five years and get more money in return.

Sidhu has been charged with cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under sections of the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Banning Act.

EOW officials said they are now looking for the STA heads of states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab and Rajasthan.

“More and more people who were cheated of their hard-earned money are coming forward to lodge complaint against their topline members. Once we establish the money trail between gullible investors and the STA, we would submit chargesheet,” said an EOW official.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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