MUMBAI: Around 100 sleuths of the Income Tax Department carried out search operations at the offices, residences, studios and other properties of top officials of film production house Balaji Telefims here Monday, an official said.

The operations started simultaneously at the Balaji Telefilms offices in Andheri, studios, residences of top officials in Juhu and their offices on Linking Road, Andheri.

“Officers from the department swooped down on seven locations across the city as part of the searches, which began at 0700 hours,” an IT source said.

Balaji Telefilms, one of the well-known production houses, is owned by Ekta Kapoor who is facing the probe, besides her actor brother Tusshaar Kapoor, and their father, yesteryears star Jeetendra.

Though officials remained tight-lipped, reliable sources said that the search operations pertain to alleged concealment and reported mis-declaration of income and profits.

The searches are being carried out for suspected tax evasion and a team of over 100 officials is on the job. The statements of Ekta Kapoor, the joint managing director at Balaji Telefilms and Jeetendra, the company chairman, are likely to be recorded later, added the source.

Officials at Balaji Telefilms were not available for a comment immediately. Shares of the listed Balaji Telefilms were trading 4.41 per cent down at Rs 43.35 a piece on the BSE at 1132 hours, with the 30-share benchmark up 0.13 per cent.

[With inputs from IANS]