ED Attaches Filmmaker Shankar's Properties In Copyright Violation Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached three properties belonging to filmmaker S. Shankar, worth around ₹10 crore, in connection with a copyright violation case. This action, taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, follows an ongoing dispute over the 2010 film Enthiran, directed by Shankar and starring Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai.

The case stems from a 2011 complaint by Aarur Tamilnadan, who alleged that Enthiran plagiarized his story Jin iguba. Tamilnadan claimed that the film's storyline copied his work, leading to a breach of the Copyright Act of 1957. The ED's investigation found that Shankar received ₹11.5 crore for his role in the film, including story development and direction. A report from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) supported Tamilnadan's accusations, pointing to significant similarities between Jiguba and Enthiran.

The ED has stated that Shankar violated Section 63 of the Copyright Act, which is now a scheduled offense under the PMLA, and is continuing to investigate the case.