Kamal Haasan's films will be 'banned' in Karnataka if he does not apologise: Min. Shivaraj Tangadagi
Bengaluru, May 30 (PTI): Karnataka Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi on Friday made it clear that actor Kamal Haasan's films will be "banned" in the state, as decided by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), if he does not apologise for his remarks about the Kannada language.
Meanwhile, KFCC president M Narasimhalu said exhibitors and distributors themselves have voluntarily decided not to screen his movie if he doesn't apologise.
KFCC on Thursday said that it will not allow the release of Haasan's film 'Thug Life' in Karnataka unless he issues a public apology by May 30 for his controversial remarks about the Kannada language.
Actor-politician Haasan's recent statement claiming that "Kannada was born out of Tamil" during a promotional event for his upcoming film has sparked widespread outrage among pro-Kannada groups and cultural organisations.
"I have written a letter, After that, the film chamber of commerce has also taken a good decision and held a press meet yesterday saying that if he doesn't apologise in two days his film will be banned. I extend my compliments to the film chamber of commerce as the Minister for Kannada and Culture," Tangadagi said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said that irrespective of how big the person is, who has spoken against -- Kannada, Kannadigas and Karnataka's land and water -- it will not be tolerated. Haasan has to apologise, if not as decided by the film chamber of commerce, his films will be banned.
"We will not allow it, if he doesn't apologise. He should apologise. Any light comment against Kannada will not be tolerated. If he doesn't apologise, we will take our decision," he added.
Asked if his films will be banned in case an apology doesn't come, Tangadagi responded, "Yes".
Responding to a question on actor Shivarajkumar's response to the controversy, the minister said he has asked the Kannada star to talk about it with Haasan.
"I spoke to Shivarajkumar about this when we shared the stage yesterday. Dr Rajkumar (Shivrajkumar's father and Kannada thespian) and family have worked a lot for Kannada cause, likewise Kannadaiga's have also nurtured them. As a senior actor you (Shivarajkumar) make him (Kamal Hassan) understand. I told him on the stage. We cannot tolerate it. Let Shivarajkumar or another senior actor speak to him," he said.
Further pointing at a controversy involving singer Sonu Nigam on Kannada issue, he said if actors from other languages come and speak about Kannada, should we tolerate it? "It cannot be tolerated. I support the stand taken by the film chamber of commerce. The government is with them on this matter."
To a question on reported statements by some actors against the move to obstruct Haasan's movie, Tangadagi asked, "...should we keep hearing such comments about Kannada? We want to see Kamal Haasan as an actor, but not as an actor limited to one language, because he has acted in all languages. Respecting actors is our duty, but when it comes to language, whoever it is-- language is first, rest all later. So there is no question of compromise."
Speaking to reporters separately, Narasimhalu said if Haasan doesn't apologise, exhibitors and distributors have decided not to go against Kannadigas. "The industry is with Kannada organisations and the people."
Kannada organisations have expressed anger over his statement. There is demand that his movies should not be released here. "Political leaders have also condemned his statement-- whether those in the government or those from the opposition. We are not taking any action legally, but the exhibitors and distributors themselves are saying that they will not screen the movie and will screen other films. They have taken the decision by themselves. We are not saying don't release or ban," he said.
Stating that KFCC is in touch with the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, and its president Ravi Kottarakara is in touch with Haasan, Narasimhalu said the actor may be adamant on not apologising due to political reasons, but hope that there is a clarity in one or two days.
"During such incidents, star actors in the past have apologised, such things have happened, nothing new," he added.
Meanwhile, in Chennai, Haasan, yet again, declined to apologise and said he believed in law and justice and his love for Karnataka was true.
He claimed that the alleged warning by pro-Kannada groups threatening to boycott his film if does not apologise for his remark, was not new and that he had been threatened in the past.
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Man arrested in multi-crore deposit scam in Belagavi
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): A case was registered with regard to the alleged multi-crore deposit scam in Karnataka, and police arrested a person running the firm, accused of attracting deposits from the public by promising extremely high returns, a police official said on Sunday.
Shivaanand S Neelanavar and his firm Shivam Associates, also known as Acumen, were booked after they could not return money to depositors after attracting investments from thousands of people by promising a 36 per cent annual return, in a Ponzi-style deposit scheme, Belagavi Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borase said in a press conference here.
The accused has been secured, raids are underway at his offices and residence, and the case will be transferred to the CID for further investigation, he added.
"An FIR has been registered at Malmaruti Police Station invoking relevant sections of the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes (BUDS) Act, the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors (KPID) Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The complaint has been received against one Shivanand Neelannavar. He had solicited deposits from the public with the promise of a 3 per cent return per month," Borase said.
According to police sources, Neelannavar was unable to pay depositors their money. As the complaints grew, the district authorities initiated action against him.
Borase said the initial investigations indicated that thousands of people had deposited money in the firm and that the scale of the fraud was substantial.
The Commissioner said Neelannavar had been secured, and searches were continuing at multiple locations linked to him.
"The person has now been secured as we speak. Raids are being conducted at his offices as well as his residential premises," he said.
He further said the case would be handed over to the CID in accordance with Karnataka State Police guidelines.
"As per Karnataka State Police guidelines, this case will be transferred to the CID. We have already written a letter to the DGP and IGP," he added.
Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan said the district administration had initiated inquiries nearly one-and-a-half months ago after receiving market intelligence inputs regarding suspected financial misappropriation by Shivam Associates.
"About one-and-a-half months ago, we started receiving market intelligence regarding financial misappropriation by this organisation called Shivam Associates, run by Neelannavar," he said.
Roshan said two parallel inquiries were initiated -- one through the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies and another led by the Assistant Commissioner under provisions of the KPID Act.
"The scope of the inquiry was to examine whether there were any financial wrongdoings, any possibility of diversion of deposit funds, any suspicious financial transactions, and any unregulated deposit mobilisation," he said.
He said the Assistant Commissioner had verified several documents, digital records, bank account details and depositors' information during the inquiry.
"Based on the detailed report submitted by the Assistant Commissioner, which pointed to suspected diversion of funds and the existence of several documents such as issued cheques and hand-loan documents, I forwarded the report to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department as mandated under the Act," Roshan said.
"I would like to inform all the people that these are Ponzi schemes. Anyone assuring returns of more than 8-9 per cent should immediately trigger suspicion," he said.
Roshan also appealed to investors and members of the public to approach the Malmaruti Police Station with any complaints or information related to the scheme.
Meanwhile, sources said the alleged fraud could run into several thousand crore rupees, with preliminary information suggesting that more than 35,000 people may have invested in the scheme. Investigators are also probing the possible involvement of bank officials after they found transactions worth several crores were allegedly routed through four bank accounts across three private banks.
According to sources, more than Rs 2,500 crore was allegedly transferred through online transactions alone, while over Rs 75 crore per month was allegedly paid out to investors as interest. Authorities have reportedly frozen four bank accounts linked to Neelanavar.
The focus of the probe has now shifted to why the suspicious transactions were allegedly not flagged to the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Enforcement Directorate or the Income Tax Department.
