The Tamil Nadu Nadu government has issued a show cause notice to Tamil Film Producers’ Council regarding irregularities within the council and mismanagement of its funds. The notice issued by the Commercial Taxes and Registration Department calls for a response from the council within 30 days from the date of its receipt and is addressed to its President actor Vishal, Vice President Prakash Raj, Secretaries S Kathiresan and SS Durairaj and Treasurer SR Prabhu.
Citing producer Radhakrishnan’s representation in December last year that alleges non-convention of general body meeting and misuse of funds, the letter states that the allegations have been proven to be true upon further inquiry by the District Registrar.
The letter also adds that all records have not been maintained regularly by the council and the decision to move the office to a new premises in T Nagar was not a collective one. “The Society has neither kept relevant records at the register office of the society nor filled FormV regarding change of address with the registrar concerned till date. Thus, the society has violated section 29(3) and section 13 of Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 and the rules made therein,” it reads.
The letter further states that society has distributed funds among members in the guise of pension (over Rs. 12.62 lakhs per month), gift for Deepavali (Rs 63 lakhs in 2018), financial assistance for marriages (Rs 2 lakhs for daughters and Rs 1 lakh if sons) and education of member’s children, thereby violating Section 25 of Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975.
The notice adds that failing a response, the Government has the authority to supersede the committee by appointing a Special Officer to maintain affairs.
TFPC had an internal fall out last year with a few members quitting and a few more rioting against its president Vishal. Allegations of fund misappropriation and general dissent within the council has been raised time and again. Earlier this year, Vishal gained an audience with the Chief Minister, inviting him to TFPC’s tribute event to Ilaiyaraaja. The event itself faced opposition from certain members and non-members who asked to stall it from happening