Money laundering: ED quizzes ‘Manjummel Boys’ producer Soubin Shahir

Shawn Antony, too, was summoned by the ED for questioning in the money laundering case.

Earlier this week, the ED launched an investigation into the money laundering case registered against the producers. The makers landed in trouble after a cheating case was filed against them.

The ED officials registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against them and also sent notices to the founder of Parava Films (Soubin Shahir, Babu Shahir, and Shawn Antony) to appear for questioning.

In 2023, the ED launched raids at offices of various production houses after black money allegations were made.

Related: ED to investigate makers of ‘Manjummel Boys’ 

Manjummel Boys & money laundering

Manjummel Boys collected over ₹220 crore at the global box office.

The Ernakulam Maradu police registered a case against Shawn Antony, Soubin Shahir, and Babu Shahir in April this year following an order from the Ernakulam First Class Magistrate Court.

Siraj, a resident of Aroor, filed a petition in court claiming that the Manjummel Boys producers cheated him by not repaying the amount they took from him.

In his petition, Siraj also stated that the producers approached him to invest in their film and promised him a 40 percent share in the profits.

On 30 November 2022, Siraj signed an agreement with Parava Films to invest an amount of ₹7 crore in various instalments.

He claimed he was made to believe that the makers invested ₹22 crore in Manjummel Boys, while the actual investment was only ₹10 crore. They also reportedly made him believe that the first schedule was completed. But in reality, the shooting had not commenced by then.

He alleged that the producers neither paid him the promised share in the profits nor repaid the amount he invested in the movie, resulting in a loss of around ₹47 crore.

Meanwhile, the legal proceedings were hit after Babu Shahir sought recourse through the High Court. The court issued a stay order in the fraud case proceedings for a month.

However, in their anticipatory bail, Manjummel Boys producers stated that Siraj was demanding exorbitant amounts after reports from online media revealed that the film raked in ₹250 crore.

They added that the amount would be settled as per the clauses in the investment agreement after calculating the entire revenue and expenses.

Related: Police report confirms financial fraud by ‘Manjummel Boys’ producers