Copyright & PMLA: ED Attaches Rs10.11 Crore Properties of Enthiran (Robot) Director S Shankar
Moneylife Digital Team 21 February 2025
The Chennai zonal office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached three immovable properties belonging to renowned filmmaker S Shankar. The assets, valued at Rs10.11 crore, were seized on 17 February 2025 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
 
The ED’s action stems from a long-standing legal battle over allegations of copyright infringement. The investigation was initiated following a complaint filed by Tamil writer Aarur Tamilnadan before the 13th Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Egmore in Chennai in May 2011. Mr Tamilnadan alleged that the storyline of the blockbuster film Enthiran (Robot), directed by Mr Shankar, was plagiarised from his story Jiguba, making the director liable under the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.
 
According to the ED, Mr Shankar earned Rs11.5 crore for his work on Enthiran, including screenplay, dialogue writing, and direction. An independent review conducted by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) found notable similarities between Jiguba and Enthiran, reinforcing the claims of plagiarism. The Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai-starrer grossed Rs290 crore globally, solidifying its status as a blockbuster.
 
Authorities determined that Mr Shankar’s actions violated Section 63 of the Copyright Act, 1957—a violation classified as a scheduled offence under the PMLA. The investigation is ongoing, and further legal action may follow, the agency says.
Comments
Array
Free Helpline
Legal Credit
Feedback