Upasana Singh, the veteran character actress known for her sharp wit, has just thrown a wrench into the CINTAA machinery. She says the association’s Rs 90 lakh in fixed deposits were siphoned off by two senior members, Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure.
The accounts were supposed to stay frozen until a court‑ordered committee took over, according to Singh. Yet, she alleges, an account was opened earlier, and money was moved without the necessary authorisation. The funds were reportedly shifted into personal pockets before the new leadership even had a chance to step in.
Here’s the twist: Dhillon, Kolhapure and treasurer Kanwarjit Paintal allegedly took the union’s official stamp and email to convince banks to open fresh accounts under their names. “They presented the stamp, the email ID, and the office details, and asked the bank to complete KYC,” Singh says. She argues that no single member could break the fixed deposits without a collective decision.
The fallout is already spilling over into the wider film community. CINTAA is already embroiled in a power struggle over who should run the body, and this financial scandal could tip the scales. Legal action may follow, and the union’s reputation is on the line. Keep an eye on court filings and the next press release – the drama is far from over.