A major upheaval unfolded on Monday within the Cine and Television Artists Association, commonly known as CINTAA. Eight members of the association stepped down from their positions and claimed that the committee had been dissolved. Upasana Singh, the general secretary of the committee and a well-known television personality, came forward to launch a scathing attack against CINTAA President Poonam Dhillon and Senior Vice President Padmini Kolhapure. The organization has now broken its silence to issue its first official reaction to the entire controversy.
Rejection of Dissolution Claims
CINTAA, recognized as one of the oldest representative bodies for artists, faced a barrage of serious allegations. Following these claims, the association released its initial statement, flatly refuting the assertions. They strongly denied that the executive committee had been disbanded.
Constitutional Requirements Explained
Challenging the narrative that the committee was defunct, CINTAA explained that dissolving the executive committee legally requires more than 50 percent of its elected members to resign. Since no such threshold has been met, the committee remains fully operational and continues to carry out its official duties.
Legal Counsel Addresses External Interference
Addressing the allegations surrounding the status of the executive committee, CINTAA legal counsel Advocate Suvigya Vidyarthi stated that claims of the EC being dissolved are entirely false. He emphasized that this is only possible if 50 percent of the elected committee members tender their resignations, which has not happened. He also touched upon the involvement of FWICE, noting that the body attempted an intervention that is not permissible under the CINTAA constitution. He remarked that FWICE acted at the behest of a few disgruntled members, stressing that CINTAA is an independent body where no external organization holds the right to interfere.
Addressing Confusions and Misinformation
The legal counsel further added that certain unhappy members are deliberately creating confusion with malintent. He noted that internal differences, resignations, or organizational shifts do not invalidate or nullify the constitution and legitimacy of the association. Reaffirming that the committee continues to function without interruption, it was stressed that the organization will proceed with its 68-year legacy of working for the welfare of actors.
Prior Allegations by Upasana Singh
Earlier, CINTAA General Secretary Upasana Singh spoke with the media to allege that Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure were misusing their official positions. She claimed that organizational funds were being utilized for personal publicity, emails were being sent from personal IDs, and private lawyers were being brought into association matters. These actions reportedly led to the resignation of the eight members.
