Pune: The Income Tax department on Wednesday carried out searches at over 30 locations in Mumbai and Pune, including the premises of noted film directors Vikash Bahl, Anurag Kashyap and Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu.

The IT department is carrying searches on those related to Phantom Films over allegations of tax evasion. Phantom Films that has been disbanded now, was a film production and distribution company started by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Vikas Bahl.

An I-T department source related to the probe told IANS, said that multiple teams of the were carrying out searches at over 30 locations in Mumbai and Pune, including the premises former partner of Phantom Films Madhu Mantena. Phantom Films was established by Anurag Kashyap, Director Vikramaditya Motwane, Producer Madhu Mantena and the former head of UTV Spotboy Vikas Bahl in 2011 and was dissolved in 2018.

Kashyap, Bahl and Pannu have been vocal on the social media handles and have also raised their concern over the farmers' protest, which have been going at the borders of Delhi since November 26 last year against the three farm laws. Taapsee Pannu had tweeted, "If one tweet rattles your unity, one joke rattles your faith or one show rattles your religious belief then it's you who has to work on strengthening your value system not become 'propaganda teacher' for others.”

(With inputs from IANS)