Rs 1.3 Crore Covid Fund Misappropriated by Film Union Ex-President

Kolkata: A study of the minute book of the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India, coupled with auditing of bank statements of the same, has revealed that funds worth over Rs 1 crore which were collected illegally from film and television technicians in 2020 by its former president, Swarup Biswas — now in police custody — was channelised in widescale financial irregularities worth Rs 74 lakh, said cops.

Audit Report Reveals Financial Irregularities

“During probe, the audit report of the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India was collected and the Federation’s CA was examined, too. It was revealed that under the instructions of Biswas, the federation collected Rs 1.3 crore in the name of Covid donations in 2020, and later the accused persons showed distribution of Rs 74 lakh from this,” claimed the investigators before a local Alipore court.

According to police, the CA though failed to produce any relevant document for distribution of such amount of cash to the members. ”Also, several suspicious transactions have been found in the audit reports which are under probe. In course of investigation of the case several discrepancies have been found. We have strong suspicion that this money, collected in the name of Covid relief, was later siphoned off,” said a police source.

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Court Proceedings and Witness Statements

Alipore police court public prosecutor Sourin Ghosal had argued in court on Thursday that in this regard, the statements of witnesses were recorded and it revealed that accused have collected huge amount of money from the members of the Federation forcefully under the direction of Biswas.

Cops claimed that despite being repeatedly questioned, Biswas was still misleading them.

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