Central Excise officials to quiz actor Dileep today on source of money

Kochi: The preventive unit of the Central Excise and Service Tax Commissionerate will question actor Dileep on Monday about the source of money recovered from his residence at Aluva the other day.

V. Pazhaniyandi, assistant commissioner of the preventive unit, has summoned the actor and asked him to show the required documents. The officer refused to reveal the exact amount seized, but confirmed that the seized items include several documents and currencies.

“We will take up the case based on his statements. He will have to explain if the money was accounted or not. We will discuss how to continue the case. If it is found that the actor evaded income tax too, we will recommend charging a case by the Income Tax Department too,” Pazhaniyandi told DC.

The raids were conducted after the officials received a tip-off that Malayalam film actors had been evading tax by receiving only a small portion of remuneration by direct payments and the rest through distribution rights of the movies in which the actor had figured.

“Many actors have set up distribution companies to collect the profit share,” the officer said. He also confirmed there will be further raids on the residences and offices of actors, directors, producers and other film executives in the coming days. The preventive unit had conducted raids on the residences and offices of director Lal Jose and cinematographer P. Sukumar too on Saturday.