Hyderabad, February 4: Tollywood producer and Telangana Film Development Corporation Chairman, Dil Raju, appeared before Income Tax (IT) officials in Hyderabad on Tuesday. This follows IT department searches at his residences and offices last month.
The searches were conducted at multiple locations, including his properties in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills, in connection with alleged tax evasion by his production company, Sri Venkateswara Creations. Officials examined financial records related to his film production, distribution, and exhibition businesses.
Following the searches, Dil Raju was issued notices to provide details of his business transactions. He later clarified that only Rs 20 lakh in cash was found across his family members’ residences, all of which had proper documentation. He also stated that his family-owned gold ornaments within permissible limits and denied the presence of any illegal money or documents.
Speaking on financial practices in the film industry, Dil Raju noted that around 90% of movie tickets are sold through online platforms like BookMyShow and Paytm, reducing the scope for black money transactions.
The IT department’s investigation is ongoing, with officials currently analysing the submitted documents to assess any financial discrepancies.
