On March 3, The Income Tax Department raided premises linked to actor Taapsee Pannu, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and the promoters of his now-dissolved production house — Phantom Films. Officials said the searches were part of a tax evasion probe against Phantom Films. NCP leader Nawab Malik said the raids were an attempt to suppress the voices of those speaking against the Narendra Modi-led government.

The I-T department searches were carried out across 30 locations in Mumbai and Pune, also covered Reliance Entertainment group CEO Shibhasish Sarkar and some executives of celebrity and talent management company KWAN, officers said. The raids began in the morning and were continuing till late evening.