Bengaluru: The Income Tax department of the Karnataka-Goa region has declared that after three days of consecutive raids on Kannada actors and producers, Rs 109 crore of unaccounted cash has been unearthed and incriminating evidence of tax evasion has been found.

On January 3, 2019, the I-T officials swooped down on the properties of several noted members of the Sandalwood film industry, including actor-producer Shiva Rajkumar, Puneet Rajkumar (sons of Dadasab awardee late Raj Kumar), producers Rockline Ventakesh, CR Manohar, Jayanna, and actors Sudeep and Yash.

In a press release, the I-T department has revealed that over the past three days, 180 officials conducted raids at 21 premises and surveyed five places. The department said that it had been working for over three months enquiring into different aspects to track the modus operandi and zero in on the key players. It further claimed that the raids have given them crucial evidence against the actors regarding unaccounted cash, investment in properties, jewellery and the consequential evasion of taxes.

Evidence of suppression of income from sale of audio, digital and satellite rights, unaccounted cash receipts from distributors and of expenses from undisclosed and unaccounted sources were uncovered from the producers’ houses.

Without disclosing the identities of who was in possession of what, the officials said that the searches resulted in the seizure of undisclosed assets of Rs 11 crore, including cash of Rs 2.85 crore. Goldsmiths were also taken to certain locations for weighing 25.3 kilos of gold that was seized.

"Incriminating evidence found when put across to the persons involved, resulted in admission of unaccounted income of about Rs 109 Crore," the press release stated. The department claims that the detection of concealed income could be of a much higher figure.

Some of the evidence found shows diversion of cash collected by theatres, which may be of interest to other enforcement agencies and hence the I-T department will be sharing all the details with the concerned authorities.

According to the department, the next step of action will be filing cases of prosecution for tax evasion and sources say that the actors and producers may soon be issued notices and might be summoned for questioning about the materials found.

Actor Kiccha Sudeep was the first to react after the I-T department disclosure. "We were not being targeted. The I-T department was doing their job. Do not have to worry if we didn't do anything wrong," he said.