I-T raids against Mamooty, Mohanlal

Income Tax authorities today carried out simultaneous raids at the residences and business premises of Malayalam superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka following information
that they had wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income. The two actors were under I-T scanner for the past few months and the raids came after 'specific information' was received against them, I-T department sources said here. Preliminary statements by Mammooty and Mohanlal had been recorded and both were cooperating with the investigation, they said. Both the actors were not in Kerala at the time of the raids which were carried out in 18 places, including Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Bangalore and Udhagamandalam (Ooty). Documents recovered during the searches were being examined, Additional Director General of Income Tax Investigation R Mohan, in-charge of the probe, told PTI. A sensor room inside Mohanlal's residence could not be opened by the officials, the sources said. The searches are being conducted as per Section 132 of the Income Tax Act (relating to search and seizure).