The Enforcement Directorate (ED) started conducting searches at the premises of LYCA Productions, the producers of Ponniyin Selvan 1 and Ponniyin Selvan 2, after registering a money laundering case in Chennai on Tuesday. The ED is currently raiding eight premises owned and related to them in the city.
LYCA Production is yet to respond to the raids.
According to ANI, sources said, "ED conducts raids at LYCA Productions in Chennai. More details awaited."
Ponniyin Selvan 2 released on April 28 collected Rs 325.14 crore at the box office till now. On the other hand, Ponniyin Selvan 1 made over Rs 450 crores. The magnus opus directed by Mani Ratnam, who also co-produced the two-part movie, featured actress Aishwarya Rai, Chiyaan Vikram, Karthi, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi and Sobhita Dhulipala.
ALSO READ: Won't Backstab, Won't Blackmail: DK Shivakumar As Deadline Nears On Karnataka CM Announcement
Lyca Productions is also credited for the making of Tamil movies including Kaththi, Enakku Innoru Per Irukku, Khaidi No. 150, Yaman, Ippadai Vellum, Diya, Kollamaavu Kokila, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Vada Chennai among others.
Lyca also produced the most expensive Indian film 2.0 at the time of its release. The movie was made on an estimated budget of Rs 400-600 crore. After its release, the movie also turned out to be the highest-grossing film worldwide collecting nearly Rs 655-800 crore by the end of four weeks.
The movie is the ninth highest-grossing Indian film worldwide.
Lyca also has high profile movies including Kamal Hassan-starrer Indian 2 and Rajinikanth-starrer Lal Salaam in line for release.
Lyca Productions also produced the first Bollywood movie Ram Setu which was released last year. However, the film did not perform well at the box office. The film made Rs 93 crore against its budget of Rs 150 crore.
(More details awaited)