Chennai: Actor Arya on Wednesday, has denied reports that income tax raids were conducted at his residence and business establishments.

Initial media reports had linked Arya to the I-T raids at Sea Shell Hotels and his residence in Poonamallee. However, the actor has refuted these claims.

In a statement, Arya clarified that he had already sold the Sea Shell Hotels to a businessman named Kunjimoosa from Thalassery, Kerala, and that he no longer holds any ownership or association with the establishments.

The Income Tax Department began its inspection in the early hours of Wednesday at several branches of ‘Sea Shell’ Hotels in Chennai, including locations in Velachery, Kottivakkam, Kilpauk, and Tharamani.

Raids were also conducted at the residence of the current owner, Kunjimoosa, in Tharamani.

According to I-T sources, the Chennai raids are a continuation of a previous investigation into Kunjimoosa’s businesses in Kerala. The inspections reportedly stemmed from a complaint lodged in Kochi, which stated allegations of tax evasion and unaccountable accumulation of wealth.

Officials from the Income Tax Department in Kochi were also part of the team that carried out the probe in Chennai.