Bhubaneswar: Woman grandmaster Padmini Rout on Friday appeared before the enforcement directorate (ED) in connection with a probe into a money laundering scam by Star Consultancy, which is a deposit collection company.

The company's managing director Triveni Mohanty, who is absconding, has allegedly sponsored the chess player after she won the World Under-14 girls' championship in 2008.

While the ED had earlier summoned Rout to depose before the agency on August 8, she could not appear as she was in Abu Dhabi for a tournament.

"I landed at the city airport on Friday morning and directly went to the ED office. I have not received any sponsorship money from the Ponzi firm. I stayed at the office for nearly one hour and replied to all their queries. I have also submitted documents the agency had sought,' said Rout.

The company allegedly swindled more than Rs 100 crore from investors promising quick returns.

The company had allegedly signed a three-year contract with the chess player (2008-2011) to bear the cost of her coaching and participation in open international tournaments.

"I came to know about the summons through media reports while being abroad for the tournament. My father was also not aware of the summons, as he was also Bengal to consult doctor for his kidney ailment. I will fully cooperate with the agency," said the player.

In June 2013, parents of several budding chess players of the state had lodged a complaint with the Economic Offence Wing against Ashok accusing him of having lured them to invest in the company. Saheed Nagar police had arrested Triveni twice in December 2010 and April 2011 following complaints by several cheated investors.

Triveni had also invested money in Odia film Tu Tha Mu Jauchi Rusi. The ED in July had also quizzed its actor and director Sritam Das for nearly six hours.