IT Dept Raids 12 Locations Linked to Rakul Preet Singh, Vashu Bhagnani, and Major Bollywood Houses

MUMBAI: In a major financial crackdown on the Hindi film industry, the Income Tax (IT) Department carried out coordinated search operations at 12 premises across Mumbai linked to prominent Bollywood celebrities, including actor Rakul Preet Singh, veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani, and production house Panorama Studios on Monday. The multi-location raids center on allegations of tax evasion, financial irregularities, and illicit overseas fund transfers routed under the guise of international film production and distribution costs.

Investigative teams from the Mumbai Income Tax unit arrived early in the morning at the residences and corporate offices of key industry figures. The primary focus of the probe centers on Pooja Entertainment—headed by Vashu Bhagnani and his son Jackky Bhagnani, who is married to Rakul Preet Singh—as well as leading film banner Panorama Studios, helmed by producer Kumar Mangat Pathak. Officials are scrutinizing bank transactions, digital ledger entries, cross-border remittance records, and production contracts to verify whether substantial capital was routed out of the country through inflated overseas shooting schedules and foreign distribution expenses.

The sudden crackdown sent shockwaves through Dalal Street and the entertainment fraternity as investigative officers continue to review financial documents at the targeted properties. While neither Rakul Preet Singh nor the representatives of Pooja Entertainment and Panorama Studios have issued formal statements regarding the ongoing searches, officials confirmed that the operations remain underway and further details on seized assets or undisclosed income will be disclosed once primary examinations conclude.