KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax department have intensified action following Intelligence report that a significant amount of black money is being invested in Malayalam film industry from overseas. Five producers of the Malayalam film industry are under the scanner of central agencies. Producer Listin Stephen has been questioned. One of the producers has paid a fine of Rs 25 crore. The ED will interrogate the remaining producers soon.
It is reported that the central agencies had earlier received documents stating that the producer, who is also an actor in Malayalam films, had received a large sum of money from abroad. The production house paid a fine of Rs 25 crore following this. It is being mainly scrutinized whether black money from foreign financial sources reaches Kerala for the production of ‘propaganda’ films or for the promotion of any ideas that negatively impacts national security.
The central agencies have also received information that the maximum amount of drugs reaches the shooting location of films with foreign black money investment.
The ED is also questioning the producer who has invested more money recently in Malayalam films. It is being done to investigate the allegation that he is being used as a benami for black money investment.
The Union Home Ministry has also directed the central agencies to scrutinize the plots of the upcoming Malayalam films. The ED issued notices to the remaining three producers and the statements of their chartered accountants will also be recorded.
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