Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 29: Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) president Upasana Singh and treasurer Nagma Morarji have alleged financial irregularities, unauthorised decisions and violations of court directions amid an ongoing dispute over the association’s leadership and governance.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday, the two office-bearers said their legal battle was aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and the welfare of artists rather than securing positions of power.
Upasana Singh said the legal proceedings had so far gone in their favour and expressed confidence in the judicial system. She maintained that the dispute was about upholding the truth and accused the previous executive committee of failing to address issues faced by artists, including long working hours, delayed payments and the lack of conveyance allowances.
Singh questioned the utilisation of CINTAA’s funds and alleged that the association had failed to comply with a constitutional provision requiring 20 per cent of its funds to be spent on artists’ welfare. She said members facing financial difficulties, including those struggling to meet household expenses, school fees and medical costs for ailing parents, had approached the association for assistance.
She further alleged that funds had been spent on press conferences and other avoidable expenses instead of adequately addressing artists’ needs. Singh also claimed that members who questioned the leadership faced show-cause notices and the threat of suspension or cancellation of membership. She named senior actors Preeti Sapru and Hemant Pandey among those who had received notices.
Singh disputed the circumstances surrounding the changes in the association’s leadership, stating that she had never resigned from her position. She alleged that following the resignation of more than half the executive committee members, the committee stood dissolved under the association’s constitution, but the rival group subsequently announced changes to office-bearers.
Treasurer Nagma Morarji said CINTAA’s funds, assets and records belonged to the association and its members and could not be treated as the personal property of individuals. She said the organisation had been serving film and television artists since 1958 and represented more than 10,000 members.
Morarji alleged that the rival group continued operating the committee after its dissolution, opened unauthorised bank accounts and manipulated official documents. She also claimed that official files were removed from the association’s office on the day a court order was issued, questioning why the records had been shifted before the legal proceedings were concluded.
According to Morarji, elections were scheduled for October 12, and a court order issued on October 11 upheld the authority of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) to conduct them. She said the order stipulated that the results should not be announced before October 26 and that the newly elected body should not undertake official activities until then.
Morarji alleged that the rival group instead conducted separate elections on October 20 and announced the results the following day, despite the court’s directions. She also accused the group of opening bank accounts under unauthorised designations and prematurely liquidating fixed deposits held with Punjab National Bank.
She said her group had filed a contempt petition before the High Court, questioning the alleged violation of its directions. Morarji maintained that the dispute concerned the accountability of those managing the association and the protection of funds contributed by artists.
Meanwhile, the CINTAA executive committee elections held on October 20 saw several prominent actors, including Anil Kapoor and Rakesh Bedi, cast their votes. Padmini Kolhapure secured the highest number of votes with 604, followed by Poonam Dhillon with 601.
Rakesh Bedi received 575 votes, Kanwarjit Paintal 548, Chandraprakash Thakur 514, Abhay Bhaargava 439, Ghanshyam Shrivastav 395, Jaya Bhattacharya 392, Tina Ghai 374, Rajit Kapur 340, Sheeba Akashdeep 322, Ramesh Goyal 296, Jitendra Singh 284, Mohd Farooq Bandhukia 272 and Rohit Roy 268.
The controversy has brought CINTAA’s leadership, financial management and governance practices into focus, with the rival sides disputing the legitimacy of decisions taken during the ongoing legal battle.