Director K Bhagyaraj, the newly elected chairperson of the South Indian Film Writers' Association has alleged that Visu, the former chairman of the Association, had misappropriated funds to the tune of Rs37 lakh.
Visu hits back at complaint filed by K Bhagyaraj for misappropriation of funds
Chennai - 27 Jul 2018 14:00 IST
Manigandan KR
A big fight seems to have erupted between two of Tamil film industry's most respected directors, K Bhagyaraj and Visu.
It all started with director K Bhagyaraj, the newly elected chairperson of the South Indian Film Writers' Association, filing a police complaint against director Visu, the former chairman of the Association, alleging that the latter, along with some of the former office bearers of the association, had misappropriated funds to the tune of Rs37 lakh.
Director Bhagyaraj said that they had assumed office only recently and that they were told that educational and medical assistance was being provided to those writers in need by the association.
"We wanted to hold a meeting in this regard so as to make the process transparent. However, former office-bearers Visu and Piraisoodan did not turn up for the meeting," Bhagyaraj said.
Bhagyaraj alleged that they had found that the former chairman Visu, former secretary Piraisoodan and a trustee Madhumita, along with some others, had begun a trust without the approval of the general council of the association and had transferred Rs37 lakh to the Trust in an inappropriate manner.
"When asked about this, Piraisoodan claimed that the Association and the trust were two different entities and that they are not connected in any way whatsoever. As we had no other option left, we have lodged a police compliant against them," Bhagyaraj said.
Now, Visu, who is undergoing treatment in the United States, has responded to Bhagyaraj's allegations.
Visu said, "I am unwell and therefore undergoing treatment in the US. I am shocked to know about director Bhagayaraj's decision to lodge a complaint of misappropriation against me with the police commissioner. There is nothing amiss in the Association. Nor has there been any misappropriation. That money is safe in the bank. The interest that we get out of it is being used to help poor and needy writers. I look at Bhagyaraj's act of lodging a police complaint against me as an indication of the death of compassion. I will recover by the grace of God and return to face this allegation."
"I am someone who has been fair. I have helped several people gain access to education. I am an honest tax payer. I have not taken a single penny from the association," Visu added.
