Kochi: Popular Kerala film and TV serial actress Sruthi Lekshmi was Tuesday questioned by the Enforcement Directorate. The actress was questioned over her alleged links with infamous ‘antique dealer’ Monson Mavunkal. It should be stated here that Sruthi Lekshmi is also a popular classical dancer. She is reported to have been present at certain events organised by the now arrested conman Mavunkal.
According to sources, the ED is understood to have asked her to explain her relations with Mavunkal. The ED questioned Lekshmi after it was found out that there were some payments made by him to her bank accounts.
Lekhsmi had earlier informed the ED that she only had a professional relation with Mavunkal. However, they asked her to appear in person and her statements were being recorded since Tuesday afternoon.
The now 31-year-old actress began her career as a child artiste in TV serials. Lekhsmi by now has acted in to 35 films besides numerous popular TV serials and not to mention of staging dance programmes too.
Mavunkal, by now, has become a household name in Kerala on account of his fake antique collections, following his arrest by the Crime Branch from his home-cum-museum in the last week of September. He was arrested after victims approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. They complained that they were swindled of Rs 10 crore by this ‘master fraud’ who managed to even take the top Kerala police officials for a ride.
Mavunkal sought to impress his high-profile guests by showcasing antiques in his collection. Among the collection were the ‘staff of Moses’ and ‘two of the 30 silver coins that were taken by Judas to cheat Jesus Christ’.
Police said that he had showcased these ‘rare’ items plus a throne said to be used by Tipu Sultan, as well as a huge collection of old Qurans, Bibles (Old Testament and New Testament), and old handwritten copies of Bhagavad Gita.
Mavunkal used to bring several VIPs to his palatial residence, a part of which was converted into museum to house his ‘precious antiques’.