The ED provisionally attached the properties on the grounds of copyright violation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Published Feb 21, 2025 | 2:43 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 21, 2025 | 2:43 PM
Director S Shankar. (X)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached ₹10.11 crore worth of immovable properties of Tamil director S Shankar on the grounds of copyright violation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
According to a report from The Hindu ED initiated the investigation based on a complaint filed by one Aarur Tamilnadan against Shankar before the 13th Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Egmore, Chennai, on 19 May 2011.
The complaint alleged that the storyline of the movie Enthiran (2010) starring Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai and directed by Shankar, was copied from a story titled “Jiguba” authored by him thereby rendering Shankar liable for violations under the Copyright Act, 1957, and the (then) Indian Penal Code.
The case is being considered as one of the first to be initiated on the grounds of copyright infringement.
The ED noted, “ED, Chennai has provisionally attached 3 immovable properties registered in the name of S. Shankar, with a total value of Rs.10.11 Crore (approx.) on 17/02/2025 under the provisions of PMLA, 2002.”
ED, Chennai has provisionally attached 3 immovable properties registered in the name of S. Shankar, with a total value of Rs.10.11 Crore (approx.) on 17/02/2025 under the provisions of PMLA, 2002.
— ED (@dir_ed) February 20, 2025
According to the ED investigation, S Shankar received a substantial remuneration of ₹11.5 crore for his various contributions to the film Enthiran, including story development, screenplay, dialogues, and direction.
Additionally, an independent report from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) identified striking similarities between the story Jiguba and Enthiran, particularly in narrative structure, character development, and thematic elements, lending significant support to plagiarism allegations against Shankar.
Enthiran grossed ₹290 crore worldwide, becoming a major blockbuster. Based on the substantial evidence and records, it has been determined that Shankar violated Section 63 of the Copyright Act, 1957, which is now classified as a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The press release from the ED said the investigation is still underway.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
