The Income Tax Department conducted raids on the residences and offices of prominent filmmaker Sukumar and producer Dil Raju, creating ripples in the Telugu film industry. The operations, reportedly related to allegations of tax evasion, began early this week.

On Wednesday, January 22, IT officials raided Sukumar’s house and office in Hyderabad. According to Sakshi Post, the raids started early in the morning and continued for several hours. Sukumar, who was at the Hyderabad airport at the time, was escorted back to his residence by the officials to facilitate the proceedings.

The purpose and findings of the raids remain undisclosed, with no official statement released by the Income Tax Department as of now. The investigation comes amidst Sukumar’s recent success with the blockbuster Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna. The movie has garnered over ₹1,500 crore at the box office, cementing Sukumar’s status as one of the most celebrated directors in Indian cinema.

A day earlier, on Tuesday, January 21, IT officials raided properties owned by producer Dil Raju, whose real name is Velamakucha Venkata Ramana Reddy. Renowned for his work in Telugu cinema, Raju has also produced films in Tamil and Hindi and owns the production house Sri Venkateswara Creations.

Officials are reportedly investigating potential financial discrepancies and unaccounted income. Documents and financial records are being scrutinized as part of the probe. Dil Raju, a recipient of two National Film Awards and the Nagi Reddy–Chakrapani National Award in 2013, recently produced Game Changer, starring Ram Charan.

These high-profile raids have left the industry abuzz with speculation. The Income Tax Department’s actions appear to be part of a broader investigation into alleged tax evasion in the entertainment sector. While no official conclusions have been drawn, the developments are being closely monitored by industry stakeholders.