Sruthi Lakshmi, the actor who works predominantly in Malayalam films and television serials, was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate about her alleged connection with self-proclaimed ‘antique business dealer’ Monson Mavunkal, who has been arrested in a multi-crore cheating case.
Sources told Onmanorama that the ED had found out that there were some money transactions made by Mavunkal to Sruthi’s bank accounts and the agency had therefore asked the actor to explain her relationship with the ‘antique dealer’. The actor is also said to have been present at events organised by Mavunkal.
While Sruthi had told ED that she only had a professional relationship with Mavunkal, the actor was still asked to appear in person. She did so and her statement was recorded on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old actor made her debut as a child artist in the television serial Nizhalukal, which was telecast on Asianet in 2000. Sruthi made her film debut in 2007 with Romeoo. She went on to act in films like Kettyolaanu Ente Malakha, Ithu Thaanda Police, and Pathemari, among several others. She was last seen in the 2020 film Al Mallu.
Sruthi is also a trained classical dancer and a recipient of the Kerala State Television Award for Best Actress for her performance in the teleserial Pokkuveyil.
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Mavunkal, a native of Cherthala in Alleppey, was arrested by the Kerala Crime Branch in September for swindling Rs 24 crore from various people, according to The News Minute. Six Kerala natives filed a complaint against him alleging that he had introduced himself as a diamond merchant and antique business dealer and borrowed crores of rupees from them between June 2017 and November 2020. The complainants added that Mavunkal has so far not returned the money.
Mavunkal had reportedly fooled the complainants by transforming his rented residence in Kochi into a museum of antiques. As per the TNM report, he had claimed that his ‘rare’ collection included two of the 30 coins that Judas received for betraying Jesus, a piece of clothing that Jesus had worn, a chalice that Prophet Mohammed used, the throne of Tipu Sultan, and more. His museum had several high-profile visitors, including celebrities, politicians and other VIPs, which lent him credibility.