The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the offices of the businessman and film producer of the movie Empuraan, Gokulam Gopalan in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on April 4. The searches were carried out at Gokulam Group’s establishments in Chennai, Kozhikode, and Kochi as part of an ongoing investigation. A team led by ED Deputy Director Rajesh Nair executed the operation, with officials from the Kochi unit also participating.
One of the key locations under scrutiny was a chit fund establishment in Kodambakkam, Chennai, which reportedly falls under the financial network of Gokulam Gopalan. The ED’s investigation is believed to be linked to alleged irregularities in financial transactions related to chit fund operations.
Gokulam Gopalan, known for bankrolling several big-budget Malayalam films, is the producer of Empuraan, the much-anticipated sequel to Lucifer starring Mohanlal. The movie has faced its share of controversies, including allegations of financial mismanagement and delays in production. While the connection between the raids and the film’s funding remains unclear, the timing has raised speculation within the industry.
Some of the reports in the media claim that the raids are being conducted connection with complaints of Foreign Exchange Management Act violations. Gokulam Gopalan is in dock as the ED had interrogated him several times in connection with the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank fraud case as the investigation agency suspects that some of the accused in the case, who were booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, had made cash deposits with the financial institution run by him.
Authorities have not yet disclosed further details on the investigation, but sources indicate that financial records and digital evidence have been seized during the searches.
