IT raid at actor Arya's residence; Tamil actor's linkup with a restaurant leads to trouble—deets inside

Tamil actor
Arya
, though originally from Kerala, made a solid mark in Tamil cinema starting with 'Arinthum Ariyamalum.' With notable performances in films like 'Pattiyal,' 'Naan Kadavul,' 'Madrasapattinam,' 'Boss Engira Bhaskaran,' 'Avan Ivan,' 'Vettai,' 'Raja Rani,' and 'Arrambam,' Arya rose to fame as a leading star.
He also turned producer, initially working on a few Malayalam films with friends and later producing Tamil projects. His recent production, 'DD Next Level,' starring close friend Santhanam, didn't perform as expected. Arya is currently acting in Pa. Ranjith's 'Vettuvam' and part of the films 'Mr. X' and 'Anandhan Kaadu.'
Income tax officials launched surprise raids
In a sudden development, income tax officials conducted surprise raids at SEA SHELL restaurants in Chennai today.
According to News 18, raids began early in the morning (June 18) across various branches, including those in Anna Nagar and Velachery. The popular restaurant chain has long been associated with Arya, which caused speculation about their participation in the investigation. In the Anna Nagar branch alone, more than five IT officers arrived in two vehicles and started the inspection at 8 am, in which armed police were deployed for protection.
The raid has caught public attention due to the high-profile nature of the restaurants and their long-standing ties to Arya.
Officials also searched Arya's residence
Interestingly, the IT department also began a simultaneous raid at Arya's residence on Poonamallee High Road in Chennai, reports suggest. Though a popular Arabian restaurant was started by Arya, reports mentioned that he sold the chain years ago to a Kerala-based businessman named Kunhi Moosa from Thalassery. As Kunhi Moosa's properties in Kerala were already under IT scrutiny, it is believed that the Chennai raids on the popular Arabian restaurant and Arya's house are linked to a broader investigation into the restaurant chain's finances and ownership history.

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Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More

Time of India

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