Bhubaneswar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday grilled Grandmaster Padmini Rout in connection with her alleged link with sham deposit collection company Star Consultancy.
According to reports, the ED officials questioned the 24-year-old chess player for about one hour over her link with the dubious firm.
“The officials questioned me about my links with the Star Consultancy. Star Consultancy managing director Triveni Mohanty had only sponsored me and I do not know anything else,” said Padmini in her reaction to while speaking to the newsmen.
Notably, Star Consultancy MD, who is absconding, had in in 2008 allegedly sponsored Rout after she won the World Youth Chess Championship is in the girls’ under-14 category. The company allegedly signed a three-year contract with Rout, promising to bear the cost of her coaching and participation in open international tournaments.
After learning that the company allegedly swindled more than Rs 100 crore from investors on the pretext of quick returns, the ED had started a probe into the matter and attached the company’s assets.
Kalinga AI