IT sleuths raid Tamil superstar Vijay's residence

Chennai: Tamil superstar Vijay was grilled by Income Tax Department sleuths on Wednesday in connection with a tax evasion case.

Income Tax sleuths raided Vijay's residence besides conducting simultaneous searches at several premises linked to a film production house, movie financier and distributors in connection with suspected tax evasion.

Vijay, who was away in Cuddalore district for a film shoot, was apprised by authorities about the searches and he was en route to his residence here, they said.

The shooting was called off for the day after the actor was taken away by IT sleuths for questioning. The shooting will resume tomorrow, The Hindu reported.

The searches, which began in as many as 38 locations in Tamil Nadu, were still on 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, official sources told PTI.

Also, several documents indicating substantial tax evasion has been seized, sources added.

Raids were taking place at properties associated with AGS Entertainment at different locations since Wednesday morning. AGS Cinemas had produced Vijay's blockbuster movie Bigil, which was released last year.

So far nothing has been recovered from the actor's house and the inmates were cooperating with authorities in conducting the searches, sources said.

Further details are expected after completion of searches which is likely to continue tomorrow. The State police has been providing security for carrying out the searches.

Vijay's 2017 movie Mersal had invited the wrath of BJP sympathisers for its dialogues flaying the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Incidentally, earlier in the day superstar Rajinikanth had backed the Citizenship Amendment Act, which detractors say is discriminatory.