The Income Tax department conducted raids at actor Taapsee Pannu and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's properties, as per a report by ANI. The property of a talent hunt company, KWAN, was also being raided, reported NDTV. KWAN's CEO was summoned in a probe linked to Sushant Singh Rajput's death. On Wednesday, Taapsee and Anurag were also questioned by IT officials.
A News18 report suggests that the properties of filmmaker Vikas Bahl were also searched. The searches were reportedly conducted at over 30 premises in Mumbai and Pune. As per the report, the searches are related to Phantom Films.
Reports suggest that the raids were conducted in a case of tax evasion by Taapsee, Anurag and Vikas. A tax department official told The Indian Express, "There have been instances of tax evasion. The movies produced by the production house were hits, but the profits and account statements have shown disproportionately low income". The official clarified that the searches weren't against any individual but against entities where they hold shares or are directors.
In January this year, Madhu Mantena bought the shares of filmmakers Anurag Kashyap, Vikram Motwane and Vikas Bahl in Phantom Films. That marked the official exit of Kashyap, Motwane and Bahl from the company. The production and distribution company was founded in 2011by Mantena, Kashyap, Motwane and Bahl. In 2015 Reliance Entertainment picked up a 50% stake in the company.
In October 2018, the team decided not to work together after allegations of sexual assault against Bahl came out in the open. The filmmaker was later cleared of all charges by an internal complaints committee of Reliance Entertainment.
After the official exit of Kashyap, Motwane and Bahl, Phantom Films will now be a JV (join venture) between Mantena’s new company Mad Man Ventures and Reliance Entertainment.
Meanwhile, Taapsee Pannu and Anurag Kashyap have resumed shoot for Dobaara, their second collaboration after Manmarziyaan.
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
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