The Central Bureau of Investigation has initiated a preliminary enquiry (PE) into allegations of embezzlement by members of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
The NFDC is a Central government body that produces and finances Indian movies. The government had in March sacked Nina Lath Gupta from her post as managing director of the NFDC for alleged procedural lapses.
“A PE has been registered against some film companies and unknown officials of the NFDC on a complaint from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The NFDC finances movies and the inquiry is into related aspects,” a CBI officer said.
The officer said the PE was set up to determine whether there is enough evidence to convert the complaint received from the I&B Ministry into an FIR.
IANS adds
The allegations include charges that the corporation made excess and undue payments to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and other film directors.
The Central Bureau of Investigation’s anti-corruption branch in a letter dated October 23, addressed to the director (finance) of NFDC, had stated that a preliminary inquiry had been launched against unknown officials of the corporation, Sun TV, UFO Movies, Anurag Kashyap Films and other unknown people.