Searches on at residences of Tamil actor Vijay, others

CHENNAI: Ahead of the release of actor Vijay's mega budget movie "Puli", Income Tax sleuths today carried out searches at his residence and also at the premises of actresses Nayanthara and Samantha in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Hyderabad.

"The raids started at 7 AM. Several teams are jointly conducting (them) at various locations," in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Hyderabad, Income Tax officials said.

Those who came under the I-T search ambit included the producers of the film 'Puli,' and actresses Nayanthara and Samantha.

The multi-starrer film, also featuring Sridevi and Shruti Hasan, is all set to hit the screens tomorrow.

In Kerala, searches were being carried at two residential premises of Nayanthara, a top-paid star of Tamil cinema.

Searches were being conducting at her residences in Kochi and Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district, according to Income Tax officials.