Producer Vashu Bhagnani Hospitalized in London Amid Mumbai Tax Searches

Hospitalization And Tax Raids

Veteran film producer Vashu Bhagnani has been hospitalized in London while the Income Tax Department conducts searches across 12 locations in Mumbai linked to him, his daughter-in-law and actor Rakul Preet Singh, and Panorama Studios. News agency ANI reported the hospital stay, though no specific reason or duration has been made public, with the family asking to be left alone when contacted. The tax searches on September 28 target premises connected to Bhagnani, Singh, and Kumar Mangat Pathak's Panorama Studios. Investigators are looking into suspected financial irregularities involving film transactions, including allegations that money was sent overseas under the pretext of financing movie projects. Neither Bhagnani nor Rakul Preet Singh has issued a public response regarding the searches, and authorities have not yet confirmed any tax violations or official connection between the raids and Bhagnani's hospital admission.

Context

Large-scale financial scrutiny in the film industry often involves complex audits of production houses and overseas fund flows. Panorama Studios and Pooja Entertainment are prominent banners in the Hindi film industry with extensive industry connections.