Ernakulam: The noose is tightening around MLA PV Srinijin’s neck as the Income Tax Department (IT) sought more details about the legislator’s assets. IT sleuths had questioned the MLA yesterday about his financial dealings in the film industry. He was questioned about the money he had received from film producer Anto Joseph.
The IT department will examine every financial documents of PV Srinijin. He was asked about why he took money from Anto Joseph and asked about the financial source which helped him to repay the producer. The IT department also asked the MLA to submit the details of his bank transactions.
In PV Srinijin’s statement, he says that he borrowed Rs.65 lakhs from Anto Joseph to pay his 2015 taxes. He said that he had returned back the money in 2022. The MLA’s questioning at the Kochi Office of the IT department lasted four hours.
It will be investigated if Srinijin had invested more money in the film industry. Earlier, IT sleuths had earlier raided the houses of some movie stars and producers. The IT department found about the financial dealings between Srinijin MLA and Anto Joseph from the documents they found during its raid at Anto Joseph’s house.
Following the raids, the MLA was summoned for questioning.
It must be noted that media personality, Shajan Skariah, is being persecuted by the state government on the basis of a video he had aired concerning MLA PV Srinijin. The state government slapped SC/ST Act on Shajan Skariah and had his offices and the houses of his employees raided. Most of the computers and laptops were also confiscated. The government has come under severe criticism for trying to curb freedom of the press.
PV Srinijin is the MLA from Kunnathunad constituency and belongs to the CPI(M).
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