I-T case: NBW issued against film producer Gnanavel Raja

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Economic Offences-II issued the warrant based on the arguments of public prosecutor M Sheela, who represented the I-T department.

Sources said that KE Gnanavel Raja, who has produced a number of movies with actors Suriya and Karthi playing lead roles, was asked to appear in the court for answering the framing of charges in April, after examination of witnesses was over.

He was charged with concealment of income and evasion of taxes, besides various unaccounted cash payments made during the financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09. I-T sleuths had conducted searches at his premises and found that he had concealed his income in the returns filed previously. Subsequent to the searches, the producer had filed revised returns and admitted certain amounts.

As he continuously failed to appear despite the court giving him many chances, the public prosecutor sought NBW against the producer on Friday. The court has posted the next hearing on November 27.