Kozhikode: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has begun interrogating prominent Kerala businessman and film producer Gokulam Gopalan in Kozhikode.  Manorama News reported that the ED is questioning the producer regarding a large sum of money transferred to his bank accounts.

In connection with the probe, central agency officials are also conducting raids at the Gokulam Grand Corporate Office and Gokulam Mall in Kozhikode. Additionally, an ED team from Kochi has raided Gopalan’s financial firm in Kodambakkam, Chennai.

The searches are being undertaken at five premises in various states, including in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), the sources said.

The action is being undertaken against Gopalan and his company Sree Gopalan chit and Finance Co. Ltd. for alleged FEMA violations of Rs 1,000 crore with certain NRIs and some related "unauthorised" transactions, the sources.

In 2017, the ED had conducted similar raids on several of Gopalan’s offices over the same charges. However, ED officials have yet to release an official statement regarding the current action.

Meanwhile, LDF convener TP Ramakrishnan alleged that ED launched the probe against the Gokulam group as a continuation of the Sangh Parivar attack on 'Empuraan'.

The producer is facing action from the central agency amid controversy surrounding the Malayalam film Empuraan, starring Mohanlal. Gopalan co-produced the movie along with Aashirvad Cinemas.

Right-wing groups have launched a hate campaign against the film, accusing it of promoting an anti-Hindu ideology. In Tamil Nadu, several groups protested against the movie over remarks related to the Mullaperiyar dam issue.