Empuraan effect? I-T notice to actor-director Prithviraj
The ED has recovered Rs 1.5 crore in cash following a series of raids, targeting properties linked to Empuraan’s co-producer Gokulam Gopalan
Malayalam actor and Empuraan director Prithviraj has received a notice from the Income Tax Department in Kochi. The move comes after right-wing backlash for Empuraan ever since the film was released.
Empuraan's co-producer Gokulam Gopalan's home and offices were raided on Friday.
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The department, local reports say, has sought clarification regarding remuneration from the films Kaduva, Jana Gana Mana, and Gold.
It has been found that Prithviraj did not receive any payment as an actor for these films; instead, he reportedly earned around ₹40 crore in his capacity as a co-producer.
The Income Tax Department in Kochi is said to have sent the notice on March 29, requesting a response by April 29.
ED raids producer
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recovered Rs 1.5 crore in cash following a series of coordinated raids across Tamil Nadu and Kerala on April 4, targeting properties linked to Gokulam Gopalan and his company, Sree Gopalan Chit and Finance Co Ltd.
The operation, part of an investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), has drawn significant attention due to Gopalan’s role as a co-producer of the controversial Malayalam film L2: Empuraan.
The ED’s Kochi unit led the searches, which spanned multiple locations, including Gopalan’s chit fund office in Kozhikode, his corporate office at Sree Gokulam Towers in Chennai’s Kodambakkam, and a farmhouse in Neelankarai. In Kerala, the agency also raided Gopalan’s residence in Vadakara. A striking image from the operation, showing stacks of cash arranged on a glass table, has since gone viral on social media.
Also read: FEMA case: ED raids Chennai, Kozhikode offices of Empuraan co-producer Gopalan
Gopalan, a prominent industrialist whose chit fund empire boasts a turnover exceeding Rs 7,000 crore, has been under scrutiny amid allegations of financial irregularities.
The ED on Friday conducted searches at the premises of Gopalan's chit fund company as part of an alleged Rs 1,000 crore foreign exchange violation case.
Film re-released with 24 cuts
Following fierce backlash from right-wing groups, 24 scenes were removed from Empuraan after its release. The filmmakers also made several changes in the movie, including changing the main villain’s name from Balraj Bajrangi to Baldev. Union minister Suresh Gopi's name was also removed from the “thank you” slide, reportedly following his request for the same.
