L2: Empuraan producer Antony Perumbavoor receives notice from IT Department

As per sources, the recent notice issued to Antony Perumbavoor is part of the department’s ongoing follow-up investigations related to those earlier findings.

Amidst the ongoing controversies and box office triumph of L2: Empuraan, the Income Tax Department has reportedly issued a notice to the film’s producer, Antony Perumbavoor.

According to a report by news agency ANI, the notice pertains to alleged financial transactions connected to two of his previously produced films—Lucifer and Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea.

Sources cited by ANI revealed that this notice is a continuation of the investigation following the earlier raids conducted in 2022. However, officials have clarified that the current inquiry is not linked to the recently released and much-debated film L2: Empuraan, despite its political overtones and the surrounding controversy.

Back in 2022, the Income Tax Department conducted raids on the offices and residences of several film producers across Kerala. These operations targeted five production companies, including Aashirvad Cinemas, which, according to sources, is allegedly owned by Antony Perumbavoor. During these initial proceedings, the authorities examined financial transactions carried out by these companies between the years 2019 and 2022.

As per sources, the recent notice issued to Antony Perumbavoor is part of the department’s ongoing follow-up investigations related to those earlier findings. Authorities have emphasized that this current notice is unrelated to the recently released L2: Empuraan, which has been making headlines for both its commercial success and the controversies surrounding its content.

Prithviraj Sukumaran has also come under the scanner of the Income Tax Department, which recently issued him a notice seeking clarification regarding his earnings from three films released in 2022—Jana Gana Mana, Gold, and Kaduva. The notice, dated March 29, was served just days after the release of his politically charged and controversial film L2: Empuraan.

The actor-director has been asked to provide a detailed explanation by April 29. Responding to the development, Prithviraj’s mother, veteran actor Mallika Sukumaran, addressed the issue in an interview with Mathrubhumi News. She stated firmly, “My son has done nothing wrong. We are not afraid of any investigation.”

It is worth noting that this is not the first time Prithviraj has been under the IT Department’s radar. Back in 2022, the department had conducted searches at his residence and office, reportedly over inconsistencies found in his tax filings.

Meanwhile, L2: Empuraan has faced intense criticism from right-wing groups due to its political and social themes, particularly the portrayal of the 2002 Gujarat riots depicted in the film’s opening sequence. The backlash led the filmmakers to make voluntary edits, removing 17 scenes from the original version. The revised cut was subsequently released in theatres on April 2.

Also read: Sreeleela pulled by a man, Kartik Aaryan walks away unaware of the incident; fans wonder if it is for the movie or fan encounter ?

As a result, a total of 17 scenes were removed from the film. The re-edited version was released in theatres on April 2, with the runtime reduced from 179.52 minutes at its initial release on March 27 to 177.44 minutes.

L2: Empuraan stars Mohanlal and its directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran ho also stars in the film. It is the sequel to the 2019 Malayalam film Lucifer.