Actor-filmmaker Soubin Shahir finds himself deep inside a pit regarding the issue of alleged money laundering. Earlier this year, following the blockbuster success of his home production, Manjummel Boys, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched an investigation into alleged financial irregularities by Soubin’s Parava Films. Following this investigation, the Income Tax department conducted a raid in his Kochi office today.
Simultaneously, the IT department also conducted a raid in the offices of Dream Big Films, Kochi, which distributed the Chidhambaram film. Investigations are underway to unearth any discrepancies in financial transactions after the ED suspected Soubin’s company to have inflated box office collection figures, and used it to allegedly launder black money. This entire investigation stemmed from a complaint by Siraj Valiyathara Hameed, who claimed that he was denied his share of promised profits of 40 per cent. This profit-sharing dispute lead to an investigation where ED suspected financial irregularities, which has now resulted in IT raids in Soubin’s office.
Manjummel Boys is undoubtedly the surprise blockbuster of the year with the survival drama finding takers all across the country. The makers claimed that the film made over Rs 200 crore becoming the first Malayalam movie to do so. However, with this investigation into this alleged inflation of numbers, there is a cloud of doubt hanging on the success of the film.
Incidentally, Manjummel Boys was the debut production venture of Soubin Shahir’s Parava Films, which also lists Babu Shahir and Shawn Antony as co-producers.
Source: The Indian Express
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