Ahead of the election to the executive committee of the Kerala Film Producers’ Association on July 27, two of its former members have accused the current functionaries of nepotism and charged them with corruption in the construction of an office building in Kochi.
Producers K.T. Rajeev and T.K. Surendran told the media on Tuesday that G. Suresh Kumar and M. Renjith continued to remain president and general secretary of the association though their tenure expired in 2016.
“The decision to conduct the election this week followed a High Court directive in a case filed by me,” said Mr. Rajeev.
Building cost
The cost of the new office building spread over 14,000 sq. ft had surged from the initial estimate of ₹2 crore in 2014 to around ₹7 crore by the time the work on it was almost finished recently. Some works still remained. Mr. Rajeev claimed that the cost per sq. ft was ₹6,250, though the existing market rate was less than half of it.
Inquiry panel
“After the possibility of corruption was pointed out in 2015, a three-member inquiry panel, of which I was a member, was set up. The functionaries, however, did not act on its report and the minutes of the general body meeting which appointed the inquiry panel were tampered with,” he said. He alleged that his membership was later terminated saying he had not paid the membership fee.
‘Members dismissed’
Another producer resigned from the executive committee accusing the building committee convener and association general secretary of corruption, said Mr. Surendran. He claimed that around hundred other members, who were also opposed to the functioning of the executive committee, were dismissed.
Prem Prakash, treasurer, had been stripped of his powers, he pointed out. Mr. Surendran and Mr. Rajeev said they would approach the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau with a complaint.
