HC warns of CBI probe into selection of film awards

The High Court on Friday warned the State government that it would order a CBI inquiry into selection of the winners of the Kannada State Film Awards for 2010-2011.

“What say did the government have in selection of film awards?” Justice Ram Mohan Reddy sought to know, while hearing a petition by Basant Kumar Patil, the former president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC).

The judge observed that the KFCC was a powerful organisation and could blame the government for any misdeeds, but the film chamber itself indulged in malpractice.
The former vice president of KFCC, Rockline Venkatesh, had suggested, in a letter to the then KFCC president, that his 2010 film ‘Super’ be selected for the award. The suggestion was subsequently accepted. The judge took serious note of the letter.

Justice Reddy observed that he knew many chief ministers were involved in selection of film awards and that he would expose them. “The whole issue had more muck than what is seen; it is only now that it has surfaced,” he observed. He further said that it had come to his knowledge that even the Rajyostava awardees were being selected similarly.

Patil and actress Priya Hassan had challenged the selection process, questioning the integrity of two advisory members.   Hassan alleged that Ashok Kashyap, a member of the board, was the cinematographer for the selected film ‘Super’. Similarly, another member, Hema Choudhary, acted in ‘Sogasugaara’, another film selected for the award.

Hassan claimed that the presence of the two members violated the Karnataka State Awards for Feature Film Rules, 1984. The matter would be heard again on Tuesday.

Notice to Kheny

The High Court ordered on Friday that notice be issued to Bidar Rural MLA Ashok Kheny in connection with an election petition which has accused him of producing fake documents before the Election Commission to contest the May Assembly election.