Mammootty questioned for nearly seven hours

New Delhi: Income Tax officials questioned Malayalam superstar Mammootty in Kochi for nearly seven hours, ending at 3:00 am on Saturday morning. The actor returned from Chennai last night.

Income Tax officials also recorded Malayalam superstar Mohanlal's statement in Rameshwaram, where he is shooting for a film.

Sources in the I-T Department say the actors may be summoned for further questioning in the coming days. Tax officials say they are examining documents seized during the raid.

So far, both actors have refrained from speaking to the media.

On Friday (July 22) the Income Tax department raided multiple offices and residences of Malayalam superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal, in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. There were simultaneous raids at 18 locations in five cities. The raids were based on a tip off that the I-T returns filed by the superstars were disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Taxmen also raided Mohanlal's production and distribution companies Max Labs and Ashirwad House. A film studio owned by Mohanlal, Viesmaya Cinemax, was also raided.

The two superstars, who have dominated the Malayalam film industry for over three decades, have several business interests. Mammootty owns a distribution company called Playhouse Entertainment, and is also the chairman and major stakeholder of a Malayalam satellite channel. He reportedly has several business interests in the Middle East too.

In a career spanning more than three decades, Mammootty has won the National Award thrice, for Dr. Ambedkar (1988), Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Mathilukal (1989) and Vidheyan, Ponthan Mada (1993) . He has acted in more than 360 films, including a few Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films.

Mohanlal's business ventures include packaged spices and restaurants in Dubai, Bangalore and Kochi. The actor was reportedly planning to bid for an IPL team with director Priyadarshan.

Mohanlal also owns some hotels in Bangalore and had recently bought a plush house in the world's tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai.

Mohanlal was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema in 2001. He has won four National Film Awards and his notable roles include those in Vaanaprastham and Bharatham.