Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) state secretary Sandeep Warrier, who is a well-known political commentator on television news, in a Facebook post, took a veiled dig at Kerala filmmakers asking them to "scare Income Tax officials by saying that this is Pinarayi's [CM Vijayan] Kerala when they come visiting". The statement comes even as I-T raids are ongoing in Tamil actor Vijay's Chennai residence.
"Income Tax is a law that is applicable across the country. Even then, if Kerala filmmakers are faced with Income Tax raids, tell the officials that this is Pinarayi's Kerala. They will run away scared."
Earlier, on December 25, 2019, Warrier had sparked a storm with many construed to be a threat against filmmakers opposing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Kerala. “In case if tomorrow there are I-T raids for tax evasion then the actors should not blame that they were being targeted and hounded for taking part in the anti-CAA march,” his post said, reported Deccan Chronicle.
Kerala Kaumudi reported that BJP state leaders disowned Warrier's statement then. BJP state general secretary M.T. Ramesh then said, according to the publication, "Everyone has a personal opinion. Social media is used to express one’s opinion. Personal opinions need not be considered as party’s opinions. BJP has no politics of vengeance and there is no such move from the central government," he said.
Vijay raids
Income Tax sleuths on Wednesday raided top Tamil film actor Vijay's residence, besides conducting simultaneous searches at several premises linked to a film production house, movie financier and distributors in connection with suspected tax evasion. Searches are also reportedly being conducted at the properties of AGS Group, AGS Cinemas and film financier Anbu Cheliyan.
Several documents indicating substantial tax evasion has been seized, sources told PTI. Vijay, who was away in Cuddalore district for the shoot of his most recent film Master, was apprised by authorities about the searches and, according to latest reports, he was en route his residence. A warrant was issued under the provisions of Section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, reported The Hindu, quoting a police official who claimed that they had information that "he [Vijay] had taken a huge amount in cash towards salary for his recent blockbuster Bigil."
The publication reported that investigators drove to Vijay's shoot site, searched his caravan, and explained to the actor why he should accompany them to Chennai.
The searches, which began in as many as 38 locations in Tamil Nadu, are still on, and unaccounted cash of about Rs 25 crore was seized from the premises of a Tamil film financier, who had faced allegations of intimidation and arm-twisting to recover money, official sources told PTI. So far, nothing has been recovered from the actor's house, and the inmates were cooperating with authorities in conducting the searches, official sources told the news agency. Raids were also on in the premises of the production house that had made Bigil.
"The total cost of the film came around Rs 180 crore and a major part of the expenses is said to have gone to the actor in the form salary. We have information about tax evasion by the film company and it is in this regard we wanted to question the actor too," Times of India cited an official.