Indian celebrities summoned to explain QNet association
The Cyberabad EOW has served summons notices to over 500 individuals, including several well-known Indian celebrities and sports people.
The EOW is seeking information on the relationship actors Shah Rukh Khan, Boman Irani, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Pooja Hedge and Allu Sirish have with QNet. Cricketer Yuvraj Singh was also served.
The remaining five hundred or so summons were issued to QNet’s CEO, directors, shareholders and promoters.
In the notices, the police asked the recipients to appear before the investigation office within a week’s time to explain their endorsement/involvement with QNet.
The police said that if the recipients do not appear before the investigation officer, appropriate legal action will be initiated against them.
BehindMLM reviewed QNet in late 2017. Based on the company’s compensation plan and business model, we concluded it was your typical product-based pyramid scheme.
QNet’s excessive use of shell companies has likely hampered efforts to bring those behind it to justice.
In India, QNet operates behind the Vihaan Direct Selling shell company.
The EOW allege QNet has defrauded around two million victims out of Rs. 200 billion ($2.8 billion USD).
For their part QNet insists that it operates in India “in full compliance of the law”.
The company has abandoned recipients of EOW notices, stating it
does not have any brand association with those who have been issued notices by the police.
Following the arrest of fifty-eight Indian affiliates in January, promotion of QNet has shifted to Azerbaijan, Tanzania and Algeria.