CBI books CBFC personnel and 3 others after Tamil actor Vishal raises bribery allegations; IFTDA thanks I&B Minister for CBI inquiry

In a detailed video, the actor had claimed that he had to pay Rs. 6.5 lakhs to get certification for his Hindi version of the Tamil film Mark Antony.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

October 6, 2023 - 4:16 PM IST

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against a few personnel from Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) personnel and three others after Tamil actor Vishal had alleged bribery while certification of his movie. In a detailed video, the actor had claimed that he had to pay Rs. 6.5 lakhs to get certification for his Hindi version of the Tamil film Mark Antony.

CBI books CBFC personnel and 3 others after Tamil actor Vishal raises bribery allegations; IFTDA thanks I&B Minister for CBI inquiry

As per a report in Indian Express, while the CBFC personnel wasn’t identified, the officials identified the three others who were “Merlin Menaga, Jeeja Ramdas, and Rajan M. They said Menaga conspired with the two others and some unknown CBFC officials to demand a bribe of 7 lakhs from the complainant in September. After due negotiation between the complainant and the accused, she allegedly accepted Rs 6.54 lakh as a bribe on behalf of CBFC officials in the bank accounts of Ramdas and Rajan.”

The officials said that Rs. 6.5 lakhs was immediately withdrawn from the bank. “It was also alleged that in addition to the said amount, Menaga obtained Rs 20,000 in her bank account from the account of a private company as coordinating fees for herself,” added the officials.

Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) penned an official letter addressed to Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, to thank him for prompt CBI inquiry. “We, on behalf of Hon. Executive Committee members of Indian Film & Television Directors' Association thank you for initiating a CBI Enquiry to probe the bribery allegations of the Tamil Actor/ Producer, Mr. Vishal against CBFC, Mumbai and paid Rs. Six Lakhs Fifty Thousand Only to get his film MARK ANTONY's (Hindi) screening and censor certificate. Your immediate action has boosted the morale of the film fraternity and they are confident that Central Bureau of Investigation would reach the bottom of the case and take strict action against the officials of Central Board of Film Certification, Mumbai. Action should also be taken against the officer who had signed the certificate even after knowing that the application was just 24 hours earlier. We convey our heartiest thanks for the prompt action,” the letter read.

Last week, Vishal had alleged on Thursday that officials from the CBFC demanded a bribe of Rs 6.5 lakhs in exchange for screening and granting a U/A certificate to his film. He had appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the matter.

After Vishal alleged corruption, the information and broadcasting ministry said senior officials have been deputed to Mumbai to probe the matter. The ministry also urged the Producers Guild of India and the Motion Pictures Association to cooperate by providing information about other instances of harassment by the CBFC. “The Government has zero tolerance for corruption and strictest action will be taken against anyone found involved. A senior officer from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has been deputed to Mumbai to conduct an inquiry today itself,” read an excerpt of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter.