ED searches against Empuraan producer Gokulam Gopalan

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided the offices of businessman and film producer Gokulam Gopalan in Chennai and Kochi, as part of an alleged Rs 1,000 crore foreign exchange violation case, official sources told PTI. The searches were conducted under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) over alleged foreign exchange violations, official sources said. The searches are being undertaken at five premises in various states, including in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Kochi (Kerala), under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), the sources said.

Gopalan, also known as AM Gopalan, runs Sree Gokulam Chits, a chit fund company with a significant presence in multiple states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Maharashtra, and New Delhi. His financial operations are now under ED’s scanner, but further details on the alleged violations remain undisclosed.

Gopalan is one of the producers of L2: Empuraan, the second instalment of the Lucifer trilogy. The film has drawn political controversy due to its perceived criticism of right-wing politics and its indirect references to the 2002 Gujarat riots.


Following the controversy, lead actor Mohanlal addressed the growing outrage. “We regret the concerns raised. The portions causing distress will be removed,” he assured. The film's political undertones have fuelled intense debate, adding another layer of scrutiny amid the ED's investigation.

While the ED’s investigation focuses on financial dealings, the film’s controversy continues to stir public debate. Whether these developments will impact L2: Empuraan's release remains to be seen.