Mumbai: After Tamil actor Vishal’s allegation, CBI books unknown CBFC officials for corruption; conducts raids

MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday conducted searches at four premises, including in Mumbai, after registering a corruption case against unknown officials of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and three private individuals.

Recently, Tamil actor Vishal had alleged on social media that he paid a bribe of Rs 6.5 lakh to get a censor certificate from the CBFC to release his film dubbed in Hindi, a version of Mark Antony.
The actor claimed that he had evidence to support his allegation.
CBI issued a press release on Thursday stating it has registered a case on the allegation of the actor who alleged that a private person entered a conspiracy with others to obtain a bribe of Rs 7 lakh from him to get the required censor certificate from the CBFC for the movie dubbed in Hindi.
It was alleged that a woman (one of the accused in the case) had initially demanded bribes on behalf of CBFC Mumbai officials from the actor and subsequently after negotiation she reduced it to Rs 6.54 lakh.
The woman accused had accepted the bribe on behalf of CBFC Mumbai officials in two bank accounts of two other private persons.
Thereafter on September 26, 2023, the required certificate was issued by the CBFC for the release of the movie.
The CBI said that immediately after the bribe payment, the money was withdrawn from the bank accounts in cash.
In the FIR, along with unknown CBFC officials, the CBI named three private persons, Merlin Menaga, Jeeja Ramdas and Rajan.