Massive Income Tax Raids On Seashell Savoury Hotel Chain Across South India Over Tax Evasion Allegations (Image: X/SeashellSavoury)

The Income Tax Investigation Wing has launched coordinated raids across multiple locations linked to the Seashell Savoury hotel chain, a brand formerly owned by popular Tamil actor Arya, who later sold it to a Malayali businessman, reported Manorama News.

Starting early Wednesday, Income Tax teams carried out simultaneous searches at luxury hotels and restaurants operated under the Seashell Savoury brand in Kozhikode, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Chennai.

Sources from the investigation confirmed Manorama News that around ₹1.85 crore in unaccounted cash has already been seized. The probe is expected to extend over the next 2–3 days.

The investigation is reportedly probing deeper into hawala transactions, possible violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), and suspicious real estate deals. In Kozhikode, the group is alleged to have conducted high-value land transactions while underreporting amounts in official documents.

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According to officials, the hotel group also has extensive operations in the UAE, and its foreign transactions are now under scrutiny. In India, raids are being conducted at nine locations in Bengaluru, eight in Chennai, and one in Mangaluru.

In a related development, IT officials also raided the residence of a Gulf-returnee named Razaq, located in Pulikkal near Kondotty in Malappuram district, as per Manorama News.

His luxurious house, reportedly built at a cost of ₹40 crore, has come under suspicion for unexplained sources of funding. Officials recovered ₹12 lakh in cash from his premises.

The entire operation is being led under the instructions of Principal Director Amrita Mishra, with Deputy Commissioners Sanil Shivadas and C.M. Irshad heading the teams on the ground.

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In the wake of media reports linking him to the probe, actor Arya issued a public statement clarifying that he has no ongoing association with the Seashell Savoury hotel chain. “The hotels were sold quite some time ago. I no longer have any ownership or involvement in the business. Relevant documents related to the sale have already been handed over to the authorities,” Arya said.

Investigators are currently going through financial records, business documents, and tax returns submitted by the current ownership. They are also verifying land and construction deals to determine the scale of evasion.