Tamil Film Producers’ Council tussle: Vishal detained

The tussle within the Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC) spilt over onto the streets on Thursday with the association’s president actor Vishal being detained by police after he tried to break open the lock to enter his office, which was locked up by the Opposition camp.

Members of the TFPC opposed to Vishal, had on Wednesday locked up the association’s office in Anna Salai after alleging that he had indulged in financial irregularities and demanding his resignation. The council, which has more than 1,000 members, is the apex body of film producers’ in the Tamil film industry and Vishal assumed office as its president in April 2017.

High drama prevailed outside the TFPC office on Thursday morning when Vishal arrived along with a few other producers and tried to enter his office by breaking the lock. However, police stopped the actor from breaking open the lock and detained him after he was in no mood to listen to the men in khaki.

“How can they detain me? They are not allowing the president of the TFPC to enter his office and not permitting him to break open a lock that has been illegally put up by the rival camp. How can this be legal?” Vishal asked before he was taken into custody by the police.

As the drama unfolded at the TPFC complex, the producers’ opposed to Vishal were at the State Secretariat to meet Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami seeking his intervention in the issue. The Opposition camp wants Vishal’s resignation citing unfulfillment of promises made when he won the elections in 2017.

After Vishal was taken into custody, police opened the association’s office acting under the orders of the DRO (District Revenue Officer)

After a heated argument with the cops, the police detained Vishal, Mansoor Ali Khan and other members of TFPC. A complaint has been filed against Vishal by the producers for financial irregularities, but the cops haven't filed an FIR yet.