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Kerala: ED seizes Rs 1.5 crore from film director's offices

Kochi, Apr 5 (UNI) Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized Rs 1.5 crore in cash and incriminating documents from multiple searches conducted at the offices of businessman Gokulam Gopalan, producer of Malayalam film 'Empuraan'.
The ED investigation revealed that Sree Gokulam Chits and Finance Company Private Ltd, owned by Gokulam Gopalan, had collected Rs 371.80 crore in cash and Rs 220.74 crore in cheques from people living outside India.
Citing the company violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), the ED initiated investigation based on specific intelligence inputs that the company, without due permission from the competent authority, was allegedly collecting subscription to chit funds from the persons resident outside India.
The ED Cochin Zonal Office has conducted search operations on April four and five under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 at one location in Kozhikode, Kerala, and in two locations in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, at the residential and business premises of Sree Gokulam Chits and Finance Company.
Further, the subscription amounts from the persons residing outside India were being collected in cash in alleged violation of the regulations framed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This led to the violation of the Regulation 4(b) of Foreign Exchange Management (Permissible Capital Account Transactions) Regulations, 2000 read with Circular No 107 dated June 11, 2015, issued by RBI.
It was also revealed that significant amounts were paid in cash to the persons resident outside India in violation of Section 3(b) of FEMA, 1999.
Further investigation is under progress.
Meanwhile, the Income Tax department sent a notice to actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, seeking clarifications on his income and assets.
Earlier, film 'Empuraan', featuring Gujarat riots of 2002, came under strong criticism from RSS-BJP leaders alleging that it supported anti-national elements.
Meanwhile, RSS mouthpiece Organiser led a campaign against the film by publishing several articles against the film producers and actors.
The co-producers of the film were Antony Perumbavoor, Subaskaran under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas, Sree Gokulam Movies and Lyca Productions.
The film, written by Murali Gopy and directed by Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who also acted along with Malayalam superstar Mohanlal.
Actress Manju Warrier, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Jerome Flynn and Eriq Ebouaney also acted in the film.
Earlier, various Hindu organisations demanded apology from Mohanlal and urged the Union Government to strip off his 'Tetrotorial Major' status.
UNI DS SS
Tags: #Kerala: ED seizes Rs 1.5 crore from film director's offices
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