In what is being called an attempt to get back at the celebs for being vocal against the Centre’s ruling party, Income Tax officials started raiding properties related to Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu and director Anurag Kashyap since early morning today. According to sources, the raid is over alleged tax evasion and was held in 30 places in the capital of Maharashtra and Pune. It also took place in the office of Phantom films apart from a talent agency associated with the two people in question. Anurag Kashyap and producers Madhu Mantena and Vikas Bahl had earlier jointly promoted the former.
During a BJP press conference, the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “The Income Tax department probes someone based on whatever information they get. The issue goes to court later.” According to the ministry, these tax evasion allegations on the celebs are serious.
Taapsee Pannu and Anurag Kashyap often share their criticism over the government and its actions on social media. Recently, they supported the ongoing farmers’ protests and called out the Centre over its laws.
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After the global popstar Rihanna’s tweet got viral and attracted almost identical tweets from many celebrities, Ms Pannu posted tongue in cheek remarks slamming them. She questioned as to how “one tweet” could shatter one’s own beliefs and perceptions.
“If one tweet rattles your unity, one joke rattles your faith or one show rattles your religious belief, then it’s you who has to work on strengthening your value system not become propaganda teachers for others,” Ms Pannu posted on social media platforms in February.
Criticizing the government’s move and the tax raids were many ministers of Maharashtra. They said that Ms Pannu and Mr Kashyap were being made the target for the views they owned and shared.
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Nawab Malik, minister of Maharashtra said, “The way in which raids were conducted in the homes and offices of Anurag Kashyap and Tapasee Pannu, this is definitely the usage of Enforcement Directorate or the Income Tax against those who take a stand against the government or its policies. Anurag Kashyap and Tapasee Pannu have raised their voice against the Modi government’s policies. This action is an attempt to suppress their voices.”
Joining in was Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party who termed the tax raids as a “condemnable act”. He attacked the government andd tweeted, “They first employed IT, CBI, ED to conduct raids on vocal and upright political rivals for their character assassination. Now Nazi govt is chasing social activists, journalists & artists to threaten them against calling spade a spade.”
As for Mr Kashyap, he had criticized the government over the violence burst against the protestors of the Anti-Citizenship Act in 2019. Moreover, in 2020, he had also supported rhea Chakraborty who was arrested in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case while denouncing Bollywood for not coming forward to show solidarity with a member of the same industry.
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After Vikas Bahl was associated with an alleged sexual misconduct case, Phantom Films dissolved in 2018.
Thousands of users on social media are raising questions as to why the two celebs only were made to face the searches and linked it to their outspokenness over the government and its activities.
