Income tax officials are today investigating suspected tax evasion assets related to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and Mumbai actor Taapsee Pannu, sources said. Searches were carried out at almost 20 locations, along with locations connected with talent agencies, in Mumbai and Pune, and Phantom films co-funded by Anurag Kashyap and producers Vikas Bahl and Madhu Mantena.
“The Income Tax department probes someone based on whatever information they get. The issue goes to court later. “Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Union information and broadcasting, stated at the briefing of BJP.
More About Statements By Anurag And Tapsee Over This:
Anurag Kashyap and Taapsee Pannu are outspoken government opponents who have voiced a number of causes and have protested against central laws ongoing by farmers. Ms. Pannu recently criticized celebrity demonstrations of solidarity with the government in reply to the post of pop star Rihanna, bringing attention to the protest of farmers. The actor picked up a leg and said if one tweet startled the beliefs, it would be better to focus on improving the own system of value.
“If one tweet rattles your unity, one-joke rattles your faith or one show rattles your religious belief, then it’s you who has to work on strengthening your value system not become propaganda teachers for others,” Ms. Pannu, last month, had said on social media.
Many Maharashtra ministers in the meantime have slammed Mr Kashyap and Ms. Pannu through the tax department and claimed that the raids were because of the open celebrity of the raids.
Anurag Kashyap voiced condemnation of violence against the protesters in 2019 against the anti-citizenship Act. Last year in 2020, Sushant Singh Rajput incident, he expressed support for actor Rhea Chakraborty, slamming Bollywood actors for not talking about the incident in sufficient depth.
Phantom Films was disintegrated in 2018 following a reported sexual misconduct incident that blamed Vikas Bahl.
“The way in which raids were conducted in the homes and offices of Anurag Kashyap and Tapasee Pannu, this is definitely the usage of Enforcement Directorate or the Income Tax against those who take a stand against the government or its policies. Anurag Kashyap and Tapasee Pannu have raised their voice against the Modi government’s policies. This action is an attempt to suppress their voices,” Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik said.
