Chennai: Popular Tamil actor Vijay was questioned for five hours on the sets of his upcoming movie ‘Master’ by Income Tax officials on Wednesday, while two of his residences were also raided by department sleuths.
The actor, fondly called Thalapathy (leader of commander) by his fan clubs, was questioned in Neyveli and is now being brought back to Chennai. Vijay’s properties in Neelangarai and Saligramam areas of Chennai are being searched by the I-T department.
The searches began in as many as 38 locations in Tamil Nadu 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, said official sources. Several documents indicating substantial tax evasion were also seized, they added.
The searches are connected to the investigation into alleged tax evasion by AGS Cinemas, which produced Vijay’s latest film Bigil. Around 20 locations belonging to AGS Cinemas were also raided.
Vijay, who was away in Cuddalore district for a film shoot, was apprised by authorities about the searches and was en route to his residence, they said. So far nothing has been recovered from the his house and the inmates were cooperating with authorities, the sources said.
The actor was featured on the 38th spot in Forbes’ list of 50 highest-paid celebrities in 2019. In 2017, his film Mersal invited the ire of the Tamil Nadu BJP for scenes and dialogues allegedly mocking the GST and demonetization exercises.
(With inputs from PTI)
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