Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched an investigation against the producers of the film 'Manjummel Boys'. One of the producers, Shawn Antony, has been questioned by the ED, and it is anticipated that actor and producer Soubin Shahir as well as Babu Shahir will also be questioned.

The ED's inquiry was prompted by a complaint alleging fraudulent financial activities within the film industry. The complaint led to an investigation focusing on film production companies. Siraj, a resident of Aroor, had filed the complaint against the makers of 'Manjummel Boys'. He claimed that he was cheated by the people associated with Parava Films, the production company behind the film. They failed to pay any profit or return on his investment.

Serious financial fraud was found by the police who submitted a report in this regard before the High Court, following which the ED started a probe in the matter. The ED is looking into any black money transaction that has been carried out in connection with the production of the film. 

The ED recorded Siraj's statements and later obtained relevant bank records, which suggested fraudulent financial activities by the film makers. The police formally registered a case against the producers on charges of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and forgery.

As per his complaint, Siraj had invested Rs 7 Crore in the film. He was told that the total cost of the film was Rs 22 Crores, whereas the actual cost was only 18.65 Crores. The producers lied to Siraj that the first shooting schedule had been completed even before the shooting started.

Despite the film's commercial success, Siraj claimed that he had not received the 40 percent profit share promised to him. The same was justified by the bank transactions. He claimed that this fraud caused him a loss of Rs 47 Crores.

It was a catch-22 for the makers of ‘Manjummel Boys' as their lawyer withdrew from the case, and the makers' anticipatory bail plea was adjourned to June 12 with a warning from Justice C S Dias that it would be their last chance.

Earlier, the High Court had stayed the arrest of the accused in the fraud case.