I-T raids continue on second day at Thalapathy Vijay’s residence

Neyveli: The Income Tax sleuths on Thursday continued with raids at Tamil film actor Vijay’s residence besides conducting simultaneous searches at several premises linked to film production house AGS, which produced Bigil, movie financier and distributors in connection with suspected tax evasion. 

Sources said that several documents indicating substantial tax evasion have been seized. Vijay, who was away in Cuddalore district for the shoot of his most recent film Master, was apprised by authorities about the searches. 

Also read: Income Tax officials reach Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay's house in Chennai

The searches, which began in as many as 38 locations in Tamil Nadu, are 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 said. So far, nothing has been recovered from the actor's house, and the inmates were cooperating with authorities in conducting the searches, official sources added. 

"The total cost of the film was around Rs 180 crore and a major part of the expenses is said to have gone to the actor in the form salary. We have information about tax evasion by the film company and it is in this regard we wanted to question the actor too," a daily national quoted an official. 

According to reports, the Tamil Nadu state police has been providing security for carrying out the searches. Actor Vijay was questioned by I-T officials in Cuddalore. 

Hours after the development, the actor's fans, who call him as 'Thalapathy' (commander in Tamil), took to Twitter and started a hashtag #WestandwithVijay, which instantly became the top trend on Twitter India. Fans exuded confidence in the fact that their favourite actor will come out unscathed and that this is a mere general inquiry.

• I-T raids
• Thalapathy Vijay
• Tamil Nadu
• Tamil film
• Bigil