Tamil actor Vishal's claims of corruption at the film censor board have triggered an immediate response from the ruling BJP, with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry rushing a senior officer to Mumbai to "conduct an inquiry today itself". The ministry's Friday afternoon post on X came less than 24 hours after Vishal said he paid Rs 6.5 lakhs for the censor board to certify the Hindi version of his new film, 'Mark Antony', which released across northern Indian states last week.
The ministry called the charge "extremely unfortunate", professed "zero tolerance" for corruption and asked others who may have been harassed to provide details. "The government has zero tolerance for corruption and strictest action will be taken against anyone involved. A senior officer... has been deputed to Mumbai to conduct an inquiry today itself," the post on X said.
At 6 PM last evening Vishal uploaded a nearly four-minute long video addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the accompanying post he named two individuals from the censor board and shared details of online bank transfers. He claimed he sent Rs 3 lakh to the Tamilnad Mercantile Bank account of M Rajan and Rs 3.5 lakh to a Kotak Mahendra Bank account belonging to Jeeja Ramdas. Both accounts are in Mumbai.
"What I am going to say is not about my movie but it is definitely related... this is about the scam that has happened at the Central Board of Film Certification in Mumbai in relation to my film. We applied for film certification online... we had to do it last minute because of some technical issues but were taken aback by what happened," Vishal began.
"Monday... when my agent visited the CBFC office we were given no option but to pay Rs 6.5 lakh to get the certificate by the evening. First told we had to pay Rs 3 lakh for the film to be viewed and then Rs 3.5 lakh for the certificate. This was done by one lady... one Mrs Mehta," he said.
The actor said the conversation was recorded - for which he apologised, noting "it is not in our culture to record but this was important to tell the world (of) what is happening in CBFC Mumbai".
"If this is the case for me, what about other people? Was told those who apply 15 days before must pay Rs 4 lakh for the certificate. I paid Rs 6.5 lakh and got the certificate."
"My hard-earned money has gone for corruption... I am not doing this for me or my film, but for future producers. Have been thinking only of what others may have to go through for their films."
Vishal concluded with a message to Mr Shinde and Prime Minister Modi, explaining that he had the evidence to back his claims and hoped that action would be taken. "My honourable PM has always stood against corruption... all political leaders say they do... and this is corruption."
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