ED Attaches Film Director S Shankar’s Properties in Copyright Violation Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached three properties worth ₹10.11 crore belonging to renowned Tamil film director S Shankar in connection with a money-laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The case stems from allegations that Shankar plagiarized the story of his 2010 blockbuster Enthiran (Robot), starring Rajinikanth, from Jiguba, a short story written by Tamil author Aarur Tamilnadan.

The investigation was launched based on a complaint filed by Tamilnadan in the 13th Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Egmore, Chennai, on May 19, 2011. He accused Shankar of violating the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860. The ED’s probe has now revealed that Shankar received ₹11.5 crore for his work on Enthiran, including story development, screenplay, dialogues, and direction.

To substantiate the allegations, an independent report by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) was commissioned, which found "striking similarities" between Jiguba and Enthiran. The report examined narrative structure, character development, and thematic elements, concluding that Tamilnadan’s claims had merit. This evidence played a crucial role in the ED’s decision to act against the filmmaker.

The Copyright Act, 1957, was recently classified as a scheduled offence under the PMLA, making this one of the first or second instances in India where a money-laundering investigation has been initiated based on copyright violation. With substantial evidence at hand, ED determined that Shankar violated Section 63 of the Copyright Act, which now falls under the PMLA’s purview.

The ED’s Chennai Zone Office issued a statement confirming that three immovable properties registered in Shankar’s name were attached on February 17, 2025. The agency also shared an update on its official Twitter handle, stating: "ED, Chennai has provisionally attached 3 immovable properties registered in the name of S. Shankar, with a total value of ₹10.11 Crore (approx.) on 17/02/2025 under the provisions of PMLA, 2002."

The case is still under investigation, and further legal proceedings are expected. This development has sent shockwaves through the Tamil film industry, raising critical discussions about copyright protection and legal implications in cinema.