Chennai, April 5 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will persist with its questioning of Gokulam Gopalan, the producer behind the contentious Malayalam film 'L2: Empuraan', for the second day on Saturday.

The ED initiated its raids on April 4, targeting various sites associated with Gopalan and his extensive business network.

Locations included the headquarters of Gokulam Chit Funds and Finance in Kodambakkam, Chennai; Gopalan’s home in Neelankarai; as well as additional locations in Coimbatore and Kozhikode, Kerala.

While in Kozhikode, Gopalan was summoned to Chennai for interrogation.

His questioning extended into the early hours of Saturday at his office in Chennai.

Sources within the ED have confirmed that additional questioning is set for later today.

This ongoing investigation is reportedly connected to the production of Empuraan, a film that has faced severe backlash from right-wing groups due to its representation of central investigative bodies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and the ED itself.

The Kochi unit of the ED is spearheading the operation, with collaboration from its Chennai branch.

The inquiry centers on alleged infractions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) amounting to Rs 1,000 crore, involving dealings with certain NRIs and unauthorized financial undertakings.

The agency is also examining multiple complaints of fraud against Gokulan’s firm concerning potential breaches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Under Gopalan's leadership, the Gokulam Group has a wide array of interests, including chit funds, finance, film production, and sports.

This group has been under the ED's scrutiny since 2023, with Gopalan previously facing several rounds of questioning.

The ED's actions have elicited political reactions.

CPI(M) Kerala leader and Left Democratic Front convenor T.P. Ramakrishnan claimed that the raids are politically driven.

While speaking in Madurai during the CPI(M) Party Congress, he labeled the ED's actions as an act of 'political vendetta', directly linking it to the contentious themes within Empuraan.

The film, directed by actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, premiered on March 28 and initially achieved strong box office success. However, it faced rapid backlash.

The RSS mouthpiece 'Organiser' published a harsh critique, accusing the film of spreading falsehoods about the Gujarat riots and tarnishing national agencies.

In light of the criticism, the film's producers have sought to voluntarily re-edit the film through the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Mohanlal, the film’s lead actor, also issued a public apology via Facebook.

“I recognize that some socio-political elements in Empuraan, the sequel to the Lucifer franchise, have caused distress among viewers,” Mohanlal stated.

“As a responsible artist, I strive to ensure that none of my films incite hatred against any political, ideological, or religious community. The Empuraan team sincerely regrets any distress caused and will remove the objectionable content.”

Despite the edits and the apology, criticism from right-wing leaders persists.

BJP Kerala President and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar publicly condemned the film, stating he would refrain from watching it due to its 'distortion of facts.'

RSS leaders J. Nandakumar and A. Jayakumar also expressed their disapproval online, while several RSS-aligned digital platforms in Kerala have intensified the backlash.

As the ED ramps up its investigation, Empuraan remains at the heart of a growing political and legal controversy, underscoring the complex interplay between cinema, politics, and law enforcement in India.