3 Producers Of Dookudu Raided

Income-tax officials searc-hed the offices and residences of the producers of the film Dookudu on Mon-day for three hours.

The producers, Anil Sun-kura and Ram and Gopi Achanta were reportedly in Kochi when the raids were conducted.

“Our accountant and employees in our office near Padmalaya Studios were specifically asked about VAT dues on the total gross of the film,” said a source.

Although the producers remitted advance VAT of Rs 2 crore prior to the release of the film, figures appearing in the press, and the pronouncement of the producers themselves that the gross collection was Rs 85 crore across India, has cau-ght the attention of the income-tax department. If the figure of Rs 85 crore is true, the producers have to shell out 11 per cent of that amo-unt in VAT, which works out to around Rs 8.5 crore.

The investigating officials have seized daily collections reports, VAT receip-ts and other documents in the raids, according to the source. They also carried newspaper cuttings about the collection figures and grilled a few employees. All three producers were unavailable for comment and their phones were switched off.

Source: deccan