The turmoil within the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) continues to escalate, with fresh allegations emerging over documents allegedly being moved from the association’s office amid an ongoing legal dispute and a court-ordered election process. Actress and former committee member Kunickaa Sadanand has now spoken about the episode, expressing deep anguish over the developments and questioning the circumstances under which the papers were being shifted.
Kunickaa Sadanand expresses distress over CINTAA’s current situation
In an emotional video statement, Kunickaa Sadanand voiced her disappointment over the developments within the association and said she had never witnessed such conduct during her four decades of association with CINTAA.“I am very saddened to see the state of CINTAA today. I have never seen such behaviour from any committee in the last 40 years,” she said.
How Kunickaa Sadanand was alerted about the documents
Recounting how she learnt about the situation, Kunickaa said she was returning from the airport when she received an urgent call from Manish Chaturvedi and Preeti. According to her, they informed her that documents were allegedly being hurriedly removed from the CINTAA office and asked her to reach the premises immediately.“I was returning from the airport when I got a call from Manish Chaturvedi ji and Preeti ji. They told me that the CINTAA office, ‘the previous committee, which is technically an illegal committee, is taking the papers in a hurry. You should reach there immediately’. They reached the police station,” she said.
Police reportedly said they needed Charity Commissioner’s order
Kunickaa claimed that when the matter was taken to the police, the officers said they could not stop the removal of the documents without an order from the Charity Commissioner.“The police said that ‘we cannot stop them. You should get an order from the Charity Commission’,” she said.Questioning why the documents were being shifted in the first place, Kunickaa added, “It is obvious that we will have to go to the Charity Commission tomorrow to get an order. We will have to give an application to them, but till then, whatever tampering has to be done… I am not saying that they are going to tamper, but why were they taking the papers? What was their need?”She further claimed that the documents were being transported from the CINTAA office to another office at Kartik Complex.
FWICE members reportedly stopped the vehicle carrying papers
Kunickaa also claimed that members associated with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) intervened and stopped the tempo allegedly carrying the documents.“Luckily, the people of FWICE stopped the tempo they put the papers in CINTAA’s office and put a lock on it,” she said.She questioned why the police had allowed the documents to be moved after being shown the relevant papers and maintained that the people allegedly handling the documents did not have the authority to access them.“We also explained to them that this is a public trust office and this is CINTAA’s office. These people are entering there illegally. They are not supposed to be in the office. They have no access to any paper, to any account,” Kunickaa said.
Kunickaa Sadanand claims papers were seen being loaded into Poonam Dhillon ’s car
The actress also alleged that video footage showed documents being loaded into a car belonging to Poonam Dhillon. She said the group recorded the incident and asked the police to intervene. Kunickaa claimed that some of the documents shown to them were court papers and said the police subsequently suggested that the papers be secured and the room locked until the next hearing.“Were loading papers in Poonam ji’s car? We took a video of that and then asked the police to stop them. After that, they said, ‘These are our court papers.’ With great difficulty, the police showed us those papers. Some of those were court papers, but the next hearing is on the 16th, so let them be, you lock them up,” she said.She added that the police suggested keeping the documents locked and retaining the keys, but claimed that the suggestion was not followed.“The police also suggested that you lock them up and keep the keys with you. But still they did not listen,” she said.Kunickaa also expressed her frustration over the conduct of the officials present at the spot and indicated that further action could follow.“I don’t know which ministers have been called, because the police officers were not listening to us. And this is very wrong. We are going to take very serious action,” she said.
Kunickaa Sadanand questions Padmini Kolhapure ’s explanation
Addressing Padmini Kolhapure’s reported explanation that the papers were being taken away for safekeeping, Kunickaa questioned who the documents were supposedly being protected from.“Padmini ji said, ‘I am taking the papers for safeguarding.’ Who are you safeguarding from? There are so many people sitting here. Will they let anyone steal?” she said.
Kunickaa Sadanand recounts altercation involving Poonam Dhillon
Kunickaa also spoke about an alleged altercation involving Poonam Dhillon during the episode. She claimed that Dhillon attempted to take a phone being used to record the proceedings.“Poonam ji tried to snatch his phone and break it. We held her hand. Poonam ji was not allowing us to take a video,” Kunickaa alleged.She said the situation was particularly upsetting because of her long association with the organisation.“We told her, ‘Poonam ji, we can’t expect this from you,’” she recalled.Kunickaa further said that the police eventually allowed them to lock a carton containing papers and that they also recorded the locking process.‘The great artists who established CINTAA could never have imagined this’Concluding her statement on an emotional note, Kunickaa said the current developments were difficult to reconcile with CINTAA’s history and the legacy of the artists who helped establish the organisation.“I just want to tell you that I am very saddened. The great artists who established CINTAA could never have imagined that this day would come. I mean, I haven’t seen members of the committee behave like this for 40 years,” she said.
Upasana Singh claims CINTAA committee stands dissolved
Adding another dimension to the ongoing dispute, former CINTAA General Secretary Upasana Singh has claimed that the association’s committee had already been dissolved after 11 members resigned. She further alleged that the formation of a fresh committee thereafter was contrary to CINTAA’s constitution. According to Upasana’s claim, the association’s rules provide for the committee to stand dissolved when 50 per cent or more of its members resign. A press conference was subsequently held to address the alleged constitutional crisis and call for the restoration of democratic functioning through fresh elections.The developments come amid an ongoing legal dispute surrounding the association and its election process, with competing claims being made by different sides.
