'Rs 2.5 crore to Mohanlal in Dubai'; ED seeks clarification from producer Antony Perumbavoor

KOCHI: A day after news about the ED issuing a notice to Prithviraj, the Income Tax Department knocked on the doors of Empuraan’s producer, Antony Perumbavoor. The notice is seeking clarification on financial matters, including overseas transactions. The Income Tax Department has also demanded clarification regarding the Rs 2.5 crore paid to Mohanlal in Dubai in 2022.

Antony has been instructed to clarify the financial transactions of the films 'Lucifer’ and 'Marakkar Arabikadalinte Simham. ’ The Income Tax Department sent a notice to Antony at the end of last month and had directed to provide a detailed explanation by the end of this month. The Income Tax Department conducted inspections at the homes and offices of film producers in Kerala in 2022. The central agency clarified that the ongoing investigations were a continuation of those works.

During that time, inspections were carried out at Aashirvad Films, owned by Antony Perumbavoor; Anto Joseph's Anto Joseph Film Company; Prithviraj's Prithviraj Productions; and Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films.