IT Raids On Pushpa 2 And Game Changer Producers In Hyderabad - What’s Behind The Action?

The Income Tax Department took action earlier this week with raids on multiple locations in Hyderabad. The raids targeted the homes and offices of some of the biggest names in the Telugu film industry. Producers Dil Raju, Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili, and Naveen Yerneni were at the center of the investigation. The raids took place on Tuesday, and sources confirm that they were linked to suspected tax evasion.

These producers are well-known for backing blockbuster films like Pushpa 2: The Rule and Game Changer. Both movies were major releases in December and January, starring popular actors Allu Arjun and Ram Charan. These films, which were produced on large budgets, had big expectations from audiences. Despite Pushpa 2 earning huge box-office numbers, Game Changer didn’t perform as well as anticipated. The raids are being linked to these recent releases, especially considering the large-scale production costs involved.

According to reports, the IT department conducted the raids at eight different locations across Hyderabad. The raids were not limited to the producers’ homes and offices but also involved an online portal connected to their business. Dil Raju, who is one of the most influential producers in the industry, owns the production house Sri Venkateswara Creations and recently became the chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation. Ravi and Naveen are behind the successful production company Mythri Movie Makers. They are known for backing a string of hits like Rangasthalam and Dear Comrade.

For some time now, these producers have been involved in big-budget films, and with the box office successes of their recent movies, their profiles have only grown. Yet, the raids suggest there may be more than meets the eye. With the department looking into possible tax violations, the question on everyone’s mind is: What triggered these investigations?

Though there’s no official word yet from the Income Tax Department, the suspicion of tax evasion comes amid the producers’ massive projects. Pushpa 2: The Rule made ₹1228 crore net in India and ₹1734 crore worldwide. Game Changer earned ₹125 crore net in India and ₹179 crore worldwide. Both movies were highly anticipated and received significant media attention. They were also backed by major stars, which likely meant that their production values and costs were sky-high.

These raids come shortly after the success of the Venkatesh-starrer Sankranthiki Vasthunam, which was produced by Dil Raju’s Sri Venkateswara Creations. Ravi and Naveen’s Mythri Movie Makers also saw big success with Pushpa 2 and their upcoming film releases. This has made them the talk of the town. But with so much money at stake, there’s a cloud of suspicion hanging over these operations.

For context, Raju’s production house SVC was responsible for hits like Dil, Arya, and Bommarillu in the 2000s. He has since produced other successful films like Varisu (2023) and Shaakunthalam (2023). As for Ravi and Naveen, they have been in the game for almost a decade, starting with movies like Srimanthudu (2015) and Janatha Garage (2016). Their latest projects include big names like Ajith Kumar, Sunny Deol, and Pawan Kalyan in films like Good Bad Ugly and Ustaad Bhagat Singh.

While the IT department has remained silent so far, these raids have raised many eyebrows. Fans are curious about the outcome of this investigation and whether it will affect the careers of these powerful figures in Tollywood.

As more details emerge, it will be interesting to see how the film industry responds to this high-profile investigation and whether it leads to any serious consequences for the producers involved.