Income tax officials conducted raids on actors Vijay, Nayanthara, Samantha and the producers of Tamil film ‘Puli’ just a day before the Chimbu Devan directorial was tohit the screens. Due to these sudden raids, Puli premiere and morning shows were cancelled. When distributors demanded 30% money return since the Tamil Nadu government rejected tax exemption, Puli producers were not in a situation to pay back the money. Due to the raids they couldn’t do it.
It is heard that, the officials seized documents worth Rs 100 crore in the raids. They detained Rs 2 crore in cash and gold worth Rs 2 crore among other valuables in the places they raided. They conducted raids on 32 residences overall and offices of the actors and producers in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday and Thursday.
All theatres in Tamil Nadu and Kerala that were to screen Puli have cancelled morning shows. They screened the movie only after producers settled the payment issue.
Meanwhile, Puli Telugu version has also released yesterday with second shows in several theaters and screening has started in all the theaters today.