Aishwarya Rai Questioned by ED in Panama Papers Investigation
NEW DELHI: Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over five hours on Thursday regarding her potential involvement in the Panama Papers scandal. Arriving at the ED’s Jamnagar House at 2 p.m., the actress faced rigorous inquiries linked to a corporate entity that surfaced in the infamous 2016 leak.
The investigation centers on Amic Partners, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands in 2004, which later revealed connections to Rai’s family. Notably, four family members, including Aishwarya, held directorship roles within the company. Authorities allege that their involvement hints at potential tax evasion, prompting the ED to file a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). This marks the third summons issued to Rai, with the latest request dated November 9.
A prominent newspaper unveiled the involvement of Rai’s family alongside 500 notable figures in the leak, affecting a wide array of industrialists and celebrities. Each family member initially held shares in Amic Partners valued at $1 each, amounting to a paid-up capital of $50,000. Notably, Aishwarya’s role transitioned from shareholder to director by mid-2005, shortly before her marriage to actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007.
Questions posed by the ED focused on the establishment of Amic Partners, the family’s financial decisions, and the status of necessary approvals from the Reserve Bank of India for transactions linked to the firm. As the investigation continues, it remains unclear whether Rai will face additional summons.
With Bollywood’s glamorous façade shadowed by legal scrutiny, the implications of the Panama Papers leak prove significant for celebrity figures whose financial dealings are under intense public and governmental examination.