ED raids 'L2: Empuraan' producer Gokulam Gopalan’s offices

Gokulam Gopalan, one of the producers of 'L2: Empuraan', has landed in legal trouble as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at his offices across five locations. The searches, carried out on Friday, come amid controversy surrounding the film over certain scenes that sparked backlash. This development has added further complications to the highly anticipated Malayalam film’s release.

ED raids in connection with FEMA violation case

According to PTI, the ED is investigating Gokulam Gopalan’s Sree Gopalan Chit and Finance Co. Ltd for alleged violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The agency suspects financial irregularities amounting to ₹1,000 crore, involving certain Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and unauthorized transactions linked to the company’s operations. Raids were conducted at multiple locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including Kochi and Chennai. Additionally, allegations of financial misconduct are being examined under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

'L2: Empuraan' controversy and censor board revisions

The film has faced severe backlash due to its controversial content, prompting the makers to re-edit and submit a revised version to the censor board. Originally released on March 27, the edited version with 24 voluntary cuts replaced the original print on April 2. Changes included renaming the antagonist from Baba Bajrangi to Baldev and removing certain scenes depicting sexual violence against women. These modifications were made to address concerns raised by audiences and critics.

Box office success despite challenges

Despite the controversy, 'L2: Empuraan' has performed well at the box office. However, its collections have begun to slow down in the second week. The film is on track to enter the ₹90 crore club at the domestic box office, proving its strong commercial appeal despite ongoing legal and public scrutiny.