IT Department conducted raids at Office of Manjummel Boys Producer Soubin Shahir

Soubin Shahir, an actor and filmmaker, finds himself deep down a pit dealing with allegations of money laundering. Following the blockbuster success of his home production, Manjummel Boys, earlier this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) started an investigation into Soubin’s Parava Films for possible financial irregularities.

Following the probe, the Income Tax officials raided his Kochi office on Nov 28, 2024.

Simultaneously, the IT department raided the offices of Dream Big Films in Kochi, which released the film Chidhambaram. Investigations are underway to uncover any irregularities in financial transactions after the ED suspected Soubin’s company of inflating box office collecting figures and using them to illegally launder black money.

Siraj Valiyathara Hameed filed a complaint alleging that he was denied a 40% portion of promised profits, which sparked the entire investigation. This profit-sharing issue prompted an investigation by the ED into financial irregularities, which has culminated in IT raids on Soubin’s offices.

Manjummel Boys is undoubtedly the year’s surprise blockbuster, with audiences across the country gravitating to the survival thriller. The makers claimed that the film grossed more than Rs 200 crore, making it the first Malayalam film to achieve so. However, the inquiry into the suspected number inflation put doubt on the film’s performance.