New Delhi:
A day after Tamil actor Vishal publicly accused officials at the Indian film certification body, popularly known as the ‘censor board’, of corruption, it has stated that regardless of a web based certification system in place and “common updates on new system enhancements” for the movie producers and candidates, they nonetheless select to use by way of intermediaries or brokers, defeating its goal of eliminating third-party involvement within the certification course of. Sources stated the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will launch a probe into alleged corruption within the movie certification physique.
The Central Board of Movie Certification, whereas assuring that it takes the allegations being reported “very severely” and has zero tolerance for corruption, additionally stated that any try to “malign the picture of CBFC” won’t be tolerated.
“With the implementation of aggressive digitization, full course of automation, and emphasis on minimal human intervention, the interference of intermediaries/brokers has come down considerably nonetheless, the apply nonetheless exists in some areas which is defeating the aim of transparency and easy functioning of the certification course of,” the CBFC stated in an official assertion, as reported by information company ANI.
Actor Vishal’s allegations on CBFC | CBFC says, “It has been seen that regardless of the web certification system i.e. E-Cinepramaan in place and common updates on new system enhancements for the movie producers/candidates, they nonetheless select to use by way of intermediaries or… pic.twitter.com/kVZchmB9mj
— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2023
The movie certification physique additional requested filmmakers to use their movies nicely upfront to satisfy their scheduled launch.
“Nonetheless, in excessive instances of urgency, the producers/filmmakers could strategy the upper officers at CBFC together with a written request and affordable grounds for an early examination which can be entertained on a advantage foundation,” the assertion stated.
Actor Vishal’s almost four-minute lengthy video addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, naming two people from the censor board with particulars of on-line financial institution transfers, triggered a swift response by the ruling BJP, with the Info and Broadcasting Ministry dashing a senior officer to Mumbai to “conduct an inquiry as we speak itself”.
#Corruption being proven on silver display is ok. However not in actual life. Cant digest. Particularly in govt workplaces. And even worse occurring in #CBFC Mumbai workplace. Needed to pay 6.5 lacs for my movie #MarkAntonyHindi model. 2 transactions. 3 Lakhs for screening and three.5 Lakhs for… pic.twitter.com/3pc2RzKF6l
— Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) September 28, 2023
The ministry’s Friday afternoon publish on X got here lower than 24 hours after Vishal stated he paid Rs 6.5 lakhs for the censor board to certify the Hindi model of his new movie, ‘Mark Antony’, which launched throughout northern Indian states final week.
The actor in a publish on X this morning thanked the Info and Broadcasting Ministry “for taking speedy steps” within the matter, and stated he hoped for this to be “an instance for each authorities official who intends to or is a part of corruption and to take the sincere path to serve the nation and never the steps of corruption”.
I sincerely thank @MIB_India for taking speedy steps on this necessary matter pertaining to corruption concern in #CBFC Mumbai. Thanks very a lot for the required motion taken and undoubtedly hoping for this to be an instance for each authorities official who intends to or is…
— Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) September 30, 2023
Actor Vishal additionally thanked PM Modi and Chief Minister Shinde in his publish.