A day of high drama finally came to an end on Thursday night when revenue officials sealed the T Nagar office of Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council (TFPC), hours after actor and President of the TFPC Vishal, was released from ‘preventive custody’ by the Chennai police.
As the spat between the two factions of the Producers Council – one led by actor Vishal and the other led by director Barathiraja -- came out in the open, a team led by Guindy Tahsildar Ramkumar sealed the premises on Thursday night. Reports stated that the officials as saying that the building will be reopened once the issues in the council are settled. The seal to the TFPC office came hours after Vishal was released by Chennai police after an 8-hour detention.
Speaking to the media after his release from the Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar wedding hall where he was kept, the actor said, “They have detained me under Section 145. I have signed and said that I do not accept my illegal detention. I always look up to the court. We will approach the court and get justice.
“If me doing good is an irregularity, then yes, I am irregular, because I did good,” the actor said, responding to complaints that the actor had committed irregularities.
Shortly after, he tweeted stating, “Suffering for no fault of mine, very disturbed that I was not allowed to enter my own office, no action against people who illegally locked the gates & doors of the same office. Totally unfair.”
Hope Justice Prevails.... pic.twitter.com/78UOVObOrv
— Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) December 20, 2018
Background
A small faction of members led by actor JK Rithesh and producer AL Alagappan from the Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC) locked down the Council offices at Anna Salai and T Nagar. Following this, actor and President of the TFPC Vishal went to the T Nagar office on Thursday and attempted to break open the lock.
However, a posse of policeman prevented Vishal and booked him under Cr.PC 151 (Arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences) and Cr.PC 145 (Procedure where dispute concerning land or water is likely to cause breach of peace).
The faction opposed to Vishal claims that the actor did not deliver on his promises after his election as President last year. They also claim a lack of transparency on the part of the actor, alleging that council funds have been swindled.
Even as Vishal was angrily questioning the police officers and asking them to allow him to open the lock and enter the office, the group of producers who had led the lockdown were meeting Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami to submit their petition. Led by director Barathiraja, BJP member S Ve Shekhar and AIADMK member JK Rithesh, this faction stated that now that the key has been handed over to the Registrar, he would intervene and investigate the matter further.