Income Tax raids on Mammootty, Mohanlal

On Friday the Income Tax department conducted simultaneous raids on the offices and residences of Malayalam superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal.

Around 80 officials from seven teams of the Income Tax department swooped on the stars' premises in Kochi, Chennai, Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram on Friday morning. When the raids were held, Mohanlal was in Madurai for the shooting of a film, while Mammootty was in his Chennai home.

Reports indicate that the stars had no prior information of the raids, though there were allegations that they have amassed wealth hugely disproportionate to their recorded income. This is the first time that the actors are being jointly raided and this is the biggest ever raid carried out simultaneously on Mohanlal and Mammootty, known to have several business interests.

Mohanlal owns a film distribution company Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments and a film post-production studio Vismayas Max and even produced many films under the banner Pranavam Arts. Moreover, he owns many restaurants in Dubai, Kochi and Bengaluru and is a partner in Mohanlal's Tastebuds, a pickle and curry powder company. Interestingly, there were reports that he, along with director Priyadarshan, had tried to bid for the Kochi team in IPL. Mammootty owns a film distribution company Play House Entertainments and is the chairman of Malayalam TV channel Kairali TV.