Hyderabad: The income tax department conducted extensive searches on Wednesday at properties owned by several prominent figures in the Telugu film industry, including Sukumar, the acclaimed director of the blockbuster “Pushpa 2: The Rule“.
The raids, which commenced on Tuesday, involved searches at the residences, offices, and properties of high-profile individuals, causing a stir within the industry.
Sukumar, who was reportedly at Hyderabad airport when the raids began, was escorted back to his residence by I-T officials. The raid lasted several hours, though officials did not disclose any details about the investigation or their findings.
Top producer Dil Raju, whose residence was raided for the second consecutive day, addressed the media from his balcony, saying, “Not just me, many film personalities are being raided.” Searches were also conducted at the premises linked to producer Sreedhar Nekkanti, financier Satya Rangaiah, and properties linked to producers Naveen Yerneni and Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili of Mythri Movie Makers. In addition, their CEO’s property was searched.
The raids follow the tremendous success of “Pushpa 2: The Rule”, which reportedly grossed over ₹2,200 crore worldwide within 46 days of its release. Sources suggest the I-T department’s investigation is focused on suspected hidden assets and unreported funds related to the film’s production and distribution.
The I-T department deployed 55 teams across eight locations in a coordinated effort, thoroughly scrutinising financial transactions, tax filings, and potential money laundering activities.
Dil Raju, a key figure in the Telugu film industry and chairman of the Telangana Film Federation Development Corporation, has attracted attention due to his diverse business interests, which span film production, distribution, and real estate. His recent projects, such as “Game Changer” and “Sankranthiki Vasthunnam”, have seen significant success, with the latter performing exceptionally well during the Sankranti season.
While the I-T department has not yet released an official statement regarding these raids, the Telugu film industry remains on edge as the investigation progresses.
