Hyderabad: The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted searches at the properties of prominent film producer and Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TSFDC) chairman Dil Raju, his relatives and some other Tollywood personalities.
Multiple teams of IT officials began simultaneous searches at various locations in Hyderabad in the early hours of Tuesday.
Searches were conducted at Dil Raju’s residence in Ujaas Villa, Jubilee Hills and the offices and other properties of production house Mythri Movie Makers.
IT officials are believed to be investigating the financial transactions of Dil Raju and others for the production of films.
As part of the investigation, they were also checking bank lockers.
Dil Raju’s wife was taken to a bank where the lockers were opened in her presence.
Dil Raju, real name V. Venkat Raman, is one of Tollywood’s top producers with diverse business interests including film production, distribution and real estate in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The Telangana government last month appointed him chairman of the State Film Development Corporation.
The IT searches are believed to be related to Dil Raju’s recent films ‘Gamma Changer’ and ‘Sankranti Vasthunam’ under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations.
‘Gamma Changer’ starring Ram Charan and Kiara Advani was released on January 10 this year, while ‘Sankranti Vasthoonam’ was released last week on the occasion of Sankranthi.
The film, starring Venkatesh, Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Choudhary, has become one of Dil Raju’s highest-grossing films.
IT searches were also conducted at the properties of Dil Raju’s family members, including daughter Hansita Reddy, producer Sirish, who co-owns Sri Venkateswara Creations, and director Anil Ravipudi.
The properties of ‘Pushpa 2’ producer Mythri Movie Makers are also being searched.
The searches targeted the homes of Mythri Movie Makers founder Naveen Yamani and other prominent people associated with the leading production house.
