Renowned Bharatnatyam dancer and Padma Shree awardee Leela Samson seems to have landed in fresh trouble with the Centre directing the Kalakshetra Foundation to start a probe into accusations of various financial and administrative irregularities during her term as the director of the cultural academy.
Taking serious note of an audit report highlighting “unfruitful expenditure” of over Rs 6 crore in the renovation of Koothambalam auditorium during Leela’s term in 2010-11, the Union Culture Ministry recently directed the Kalakshetra Foundation to fix responsibility for such “irregularity” and take action against the “errant officials”.
The ministry also asked Kalakshetra to seek an “official explanation” from Leela over handling of the renovation project during her term as the director of the cultural academy. Leela was appointed director of the Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, in 2005 during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.
Published 06 December 2015, 19:28 IST