TFPC members meet CM, call Vishal corrupt

“When Vishal took over as president of TFPC, the total fund available in the council was Rs 7.8 crore and now after two years, the total fund available with the council is Rs 30 lakh. When the account for missing Rs 7.5 crore was questioned there was no reply from him,” said renowned produced AL Azhagappan, while addressing the media, at the Secretariat. A team of producers, led by ace director Bharathiraja, Azhagappan, actor JK Rithesh and others met Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and submitted a petition seeking government intervention in the TFPC and to take action against Vishal.

They also met state Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju and sought his help in the issue. Addressing reporters after meeting Palaniswami and Kadambur Raju, Bharathiraja said that Vishal had rented a building for the TFPC, without the consent of the members and shifted all the files to the new building.

“The rented building was unauthorised and so they had to lock the building. When the Registrar office was approached, the officials had informed them that they will send a team under Deputy Registrar to seize all the files attached to the TFPC from the office”, said Bharathiraja. When asked who gave the authority for the members to lock an unauthorised building, Bharathiraja did not respond and left the spot.

However, Rithesh said that Vishal is involved in unnecessary activities in the producers’ council by organising function to honour music director Ilayaraja. “Ilayaraja has to pay Rs 50 crore as royalty to the TFPC and under the circumstances why should Vishal spend Rs 3.5 crore for a function to honour Ilayaraja,” questioned Rithesh.

Another producer K Rajan, former president, TFPC, said that Vishal is colluding with Tamilrockers and is destroying the film industry. He demanded immediate resignation of Vishal from the TFPC.

Office-bearers of the council represented by honourary secretary Durairaj had lodged a complaint against the rival faction including JK Rithesh, SVe Shekar among others who spearheaded the protest demanding Vishal’s resignation on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media after he was released, Vishal questioned police action to detain him under Section 145 of the IPC (related to land dispute). “The accusation against me is that I have swindled about Rs 7 crore of the council’s money, but there are ways to seek an explanation and unlawfully locking the office will not yield any desired result,” he argued.

He added that he was planning to organise a concert by Ilayaraja to help the needy producers and those who don’t like are opposing it. “If trying to help struggling producers is wrong, I would definitely do it,” he added.