Empuraan Producer Antony Perumbavoor Served Income Tax Notice After Prithviraj Sukumaran

Income Tax Notice to Empuraan Producer Antony Perumbavoor: A day after news broke that actor and filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran had received an income tax notice, Empuraan producer Antony Perumbavoor has also come under scrutiny. According to a report by Asianet News, the Income Tax Department has served a notice to Antony Perumbavoor, seeking clarification on financial transactions related to two of his earlier productions - Lucifer and Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea.

The notice reportedly follows up on a 2022 raid at Aashirvad Cinemas, the production house headed by Antony Perumbavoor. The department is now seeking detailed records related to the overseas distribution rights of the two films, as well as the remuneration paid to the actors involved. One particular transaction - a reported payment of ₹2.5 crore to superstar Mohanlal in Dubai - has also been flagged for clarification.

However, according to the report, officials from the Income Tax Department have maintained that the current inquiry is unrelated to the ongoing controversy surrounding Empuraan. The political thriller, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and starring Mohanlal, has sparked heated debate following its release, with right-wing groups accusing the film of promoting an anti-Hindu narrative.

Meanwhile, Empuraan co-producer Gokulam Gopalan is also facing legal scrutiny. Reports indicate that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is preparing to question him again in connection with earlier raids on Gokulam Chits and Finance. The ED had conducted searches at Gopalan's offices in Kochi and Chennai on April 4, reportedly over alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Officials have clarified that the action was linked to financial irregularities and not the content of the film.

Authorities Deny Link To Empuraan Controversy

As for Prithviraj Sukumaran, he was issued a notice on Thursday requesting details regarding payments received for films he has acted in. This notice is also believed to be part of a broader inquiry following IT raids conducted last year at his offices and residence. He has been asked to respond by April 30.

Despite the timing of these developments overlapping with the Empuraan controversy, authorities have consistently stated that the recent notices and raids are part of ongoing financial investigations and not politically motivated actions triggered by the film's narrative.