CINTAA row: Office-bearers cite frozen accounts, CAWT MOU and court relief

The internal dispute within the Cine and TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) has drawn public comments from its senior office-bearers, who have addressed the freezing of the association's bank accounts, a proposed agreement with a welfare trust and ongoing legal proceedings.

General Secretary Padmini Kolhapure said the accounts have remained frozen since the 7th of the month, which she said has halted welfare activities, prevented the association from helping anyone and stopped the payment of staff salaries. She alleged that Upasana Singh and Deepak Parashar were behind the move, claiming they approached the banks, signed on plain paper and froze the accounts without the right to do so. Kolhapure questioned why staff payments should be affected by an internal fight, asking how salaries would be paid if the funds were not released.

President Poonam Dhillon spoke about a proposed memorandum of understanding between CINTAA and the Cine Artists Welfare Trust (CAWT), saying the idea was discussed at the association's annual general meeting. She recalled that CINTAA had helped CAWT in 2016 after the trust was allotted land, and that member Mithun Chakraborty had raised funds through shows, while Johnny Lever had organised events and shows in 2010. Dhillon said CAWT had not carried out fundraising since then, prompting CINTAA to consider helping, and that over the past two to two-and-a-half years of working towards an MOU, the trust would cite a lack of funds whenever a medical emergency arose.

Vice President C.P. Thakur said the dispute was not about any alleged misuse of funds. He said differences arose over the proposed transfer of CINTAA funds to CAWT and other matters, including the sharing of contact details. He explained that certain financial transactions require approval from authorised signatories, and that the signing authority rests with Deepak Parashar, Upasana Singh and Poonam Dhillon. Without their signatures, or Parashar's, the transactions are not possible, he said. Thakur added that CAWT wanted funds from CINTAA members to be given to it because it had spent money on interiors and an inauguration, and that opposition from two people angered the trust, which he described as the reason behind the problems.

Thakur also said the association's lawyer, Mr Peerzada, argued the case and obtained an order permitting the election to take place and its result to be declared. He said the City Civil Court will decide on October 26, 2026, whether the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has the right to conduct the CINTAA elections, and that only after that decision will the committee be able to take its place. If the ruling goes in their favour, they will have to vacate their seats, he added.

The dispute follows the resignation of at least eleven Executive Committee members, including eight elected members, in August, citing concerns over the association's functioning and alleged unilateral decision-making by its leadership. Upasana Singh and other dissenting members have accused Dhillon and Kolhapure of undemocratic functioning, allegations both office-bearers have denied.