Thiruvananthapuram: Malayalam actor and Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Gopi was arrested on Monday and later released on bail in connection with the registration of his luxury vehicle in Puducherry allegedly using 'forged' documents.
The Crime Branch wing of Kerala police recorded the award-winning actor's statement when he appeared before the officials here for questioning. The actor was released on a bond of Rs 1 lakh and two solvent sureties.
The police had registered an FIR against the actor on December 5, charging him for fabricating documents by showing an address in the Union territory of Puducherry and getting the vehicles registered there, causing revenue loss to the Kerala government.
Suresh Gopi then moved the Kerala High Court for anticipatory bail. In his plea, he said the allegations prima facie were false.
He said he had chosen to register the two vehicles in Puducherry, where he has rented a property since 2009.
The BJP MP said he owns agricultural land around Puducherry, which was being looked after by family members, including his brothers.
He said he has a house at Bengaluru and his brothers have residences at Coimbatore and Tuticorin, so the vehicles were frequently used to ply within these states.
The police have said the actor-turned-politician used a fake residential address to register his luxury vehicles in the Union territory to evade the 20% tax in Kerala on luxury cars. In Puducherry, it was as low as 13.75%, reports said.
Actor Fahadh Faasil and Amala Paul have also been booked by the Crime Branch in similar cases.
(With inputs from PTI)
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