GST intelligence team raids actor Vishal’s office

CHENNAI: The Goods and Services Tax intelligence wing on Monday raided the office of Tamil actor Vishal’s film production company -- Vishal Film Factory -- in Chennai following information that he had allegedly evaded service tax to the tune of several lakhs of rupees.The raid happened a day after a vicious spat between Vishal and BJP leader H Raja over actor Vijay’s film ‘Mersal.’ Led by four senior officials from the GST intelligence wing, the raid started in the afternoon."The raid started after 2 pm on the premises of the Vadapalani office of the production house. We are yet to know the extent of service tax evasion by the company. We have just started the searches after information collected for nearly one year," a senior GST intelligence official told TOI.However, a statement issued by the Chennai intelligence wing in the name of joint director PVK Rajasekar said no search operations had been conducted in the office. “News circulating about our officials entering the office is wrong,” it said.Vishal Film Factory, set up in 2013, has produced six films including “Kathakali,” “Naan Sigappu Manithan” and “Aambala.” Vishal played the lead role in all these movies.Vishal is also the president of the Tamil Film Producers’ Council and general secretary of the Nadigar Sangam.