Tamil actor Vishal’s recent allegations of corruption within the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) have triggered a rapid response from the Indian government. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has initiated an immediate inquiry in light of the actor’s claims, vowing “zero tolerance” for corruption.
The controversy began when Vishal uploaded a nearly four-minute video addressing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the video, he alleged that he had paid ₹6.5 lakhs to the CBFC for the certification of the Hindi version of his film, ‘Mark Antony,’ which was released in northern Indian states last week.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry swiftly denounced the allegations as “extremely unfortunate” and pledged to take the strictest action against any individuals involved in corrupt practices. In an official statement, the ministry expressed its commitment to combatting corruption and promptly dispatched a senior officer to Mumbai to conduct an inquiry into the matter on the very day the allegations surfaced.
In his video, Vishal named two individuals from the CBFC and provided details of online bank transfers related to the alleged corruption. He stated that he had transferred ₹3 lakhs to the Tamilnad Mercantile Bank account of M Rajan and ₹3.5 lakhs to a Kotak Mahindra Bank account belonging to Jeeja Ramdas, both of which are located in Mumbai.
The actor asserted that the necessity to pay ₹6.5 lakhs for certification was imposed upon him, citing that ₹3 lakhs were requested for the film to be viewed, followed by an additional ₹3.5 lakhs for the certificate. Vishal explained that this transaction was facilitated by a person he referred to as “Mrs. Mehta” and revealed that he had recorded the conversation, acknowledging that it was unusual to do so but deemed it essential to expose the alleged corruption at the CBFC.
Vishal, throughout his video message, expressed concern not only for himself and his film but also for future film producers. He emphasized the potential hardship that others in the industry might endure and highlighted the need for transparency and fairness in the certification process.
In conclusion, Vishal appealed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, presenting the evidence he had gathered and urging them to take appropriate action. He underscored the importance of combatting corruption, citing the government’s commitment to this cause and the expectation that it would be upheld.
The inquiry initiated by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is expected to shed light on the allegations and determine any necessary actions to ensure the integrity of the film certification process.
Sources By Agencies
