Chennai: Tamil actor Vishal’s production house was raided by Income Tax Department officials a day after he got into a war of words with the state BJP over criticism of the Centre in the Vijay film Mersal.
Initial reports had said that the raids were conducted by the GST Intelligence team, which in turn led to speculation that it was a fallout of the actor’s spat with BJP leader H Raja over the movie Mersal.
The reports, however, were denied by the GST Intelligence. "It is to clarify that the officers of DGGSTI have not conducted any such search operations and the news which is being circulated is factually incorrect and false," Joint Director of DGGSTI PVK Rajasekhar said in a release.
Sources in the Income Tax Department too clarified that the raids were conducted by them.
Vishal Film Factory has reportedly assured the I-T department that the pending TDS would be deposited in two to three instalments. The department has issued summons to the company to appear on Friday.
Responding to the incident, the actor said he had no previous knowledge about the raids and had to send his team when the I-T officials decided to raid his production house.
“It was the TDS wing of the Income Tax Department. All of us were at a shoot location. When the I-T officials came, I had to send my manager to the office. It was only when he reached there, did he know that it was a TDS assessment,” Vishal told News18.
When asked if he felt the raids were politically motivated, the actor said, “Honestly, I don’t know. I will abide by their directions, I will make sure things are in order. Who is behind this or whether it is a conspiracy against me, I do not know.”
Vishal had a day earlier accused BJP leader H Raja of advocating piracy by watching Vijay-starrer Mersal online, a charge rejected by latter.
The spat between the two had escalated a controversy over the movie Mersal which kicked up a row with the BJP taking exception to references on GST in some scenes.
Actor Vijay's fans have been reportedly circulating the contentious scenes through mobile phones. "I don't have the patience to watch a two-and-a-half hour movie. This entire episode shows that whoever opposes the BJP are supporting Vijay, and this is expected," Raja had said.
Hitting back, Vishal said: "Dear Mr H Raja, as a leader and prominent personality, you are advocating piracy and blatantly agreeing to it." The actor also said he wondered "how a political leader like you could watch a pirated version of a film (online)" and added that it "sets a bad example".
BJP leaders, including Raja, a national secretary in the party, state president Tamilisai Soundarajan and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, have been demanding that the "incorrect" references be deleted from the big-budget flick.
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