రెండో రోజూ సోదాలు

The Income Tax (IT) Department has intensified its investigation into the Tollywood film industry, conducting searches at multiple locations for the second consecutive day. A total of 55 IT teams were deployed across different areas to examine financial records related to recent blockbuster films, including Pushpa 2, Sankranti Ainyaam, Game Changer, and Varasudu. On Wednesday, as Pushpa 2 director Sukumar arrived in Hyderabad, IT officials intercepted him at Shamshabad Airport and escorted him to his residence for questioning about his remuneration for the film. The offices of Sri Venkateswara Cine Creations, Mythri Movie Makers, and Mango Media, along with the residences of producers Naveen Erneni, Yalamanchili Ravi Shankar, Cherry, and Dil Raju, were also subjected to thorough searches.

According to sources, several financial irregularities have surfaced during the investigations. IT officials have reportedly discovered that many film distribution agreements involved black money transactions. The probe has now shifted focus to benami bank accounts allegedly used by producers to conceal illicit earnings. Discrepancies were also found in the balance sheets submitted to the IT department, particularly regarding the revenues from recent successful films. Additionally, inconsistencies in GST returns linked to box office collections have raised further concerns about tax evasion within the industry.

The massive box office earnings of recent films have drawn the attention of tax authorities. Sankranti Ainyaam, made on a relatively modest budget, amassed ₹200 crore in its first week, while Pushpa 2 has reportedly grossed a staggering ₹1,850 crore worldwide. Given these enormous figures, IT officials have scrutinized the financial records of distributors and production companies. Additionally, authorities have questioned producer Dil Raju about financial discrepancies related to Varasudu, starring Tamil actor Vijay. Reports suggest that tax authorities are closely examining the earnings and tax filings of multiple industry figures.

Responding to the IT raids, producer Dil Raju clarified that he was not being targeted individually, emphasizing that similar searches were being conducted across the entire film industry. He stated that all requested financial details, including bank accounts and lockers, had been provided to the IT department. He assured that if any discrepancies in tax payments were identified, appropriate action would be taken based on the notices issued by tax authorities. As the investigation unfolds, the Tollywood film industry remains on high alert, with more revelations expected in the coming days.