Income Tax officials conducted raids on the premises of Tamil actor Vishal’s production house- Vishal Film Factory (VFF) yesterday. As per reports, the production house has failed to pay Rs. 51 lakh collected as TDS (Tax Deducted at Source). The team is said to have left the office after the VFF staff assured to pay the due amount in two installments. 

Earlier, it was wrongly reported in the media that the raid was conducted by the GST Intelligence Agency. A top GST official clarified on it later stating the agency had not conducted any search at VFF.

Interestingly, IT raids were conducted on Vishal’s office just a day after the actor criticized a BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) local leader H Raja who has been leading the charge against actor Vijay's film Mersal for allegedly defaming GST.

When a media house asked Vishal regarding IT raids, he clarified saying, “It was TDS assessment by IT wing. Issue needs to be sorted officially and I will do so. The timing of IT department's visit to my office is suspect. The BJP's demand to chop Mersal dialogues is a curb on freedom of expression.”

Curiously, no action has been taken against H Raja who directly announced to have watched Mersal online piracy version.

If BJP continues to struggle those who question their government or leaders, they will lose faith in public who are already vexed with demonetization and GST schemes.