The Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s swift response to Tamil actor Vishal’s corruption allegations at the film censor board has set in motion an inquiry to address the issue promptly. Vishal, in a nearly four-minute video posted at 6 PM the previous evening, addressed Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, shedding light on his claim that he paid ₹6.5 lakhs to the censor board for certifying the Hindi version of his film, ‘Mark Antony.’

The ministry expressed its deep concern over the allegations and asserted its “zero tolerance” policy towards corruption. In a statement, the ministry vowed to take strict action against any individuals found involved in corrupt practices and dispatched a senior officer to Mumbai for an immediate inquiry.

Vishal’s video revealed that he had transferred ₹3 lakhs to the Tamilnad Mercantile Bank account of M Rajan and ₹3.5 lakhs to a Kotak Mahendra Bank account belonging to Jeeja Ramdas, both located in Mumbai. He explained that his agent was forced to pay ₹6.5 lakhs to obtain the film certificate on Monday, with ₹3 lakhs for viewing the film and ₹3.5 lakhs for the certificate itself, all facilitated by an individual named Mrs. Mehta.

The actor expressed his concerns about the larger implications of this corruption within the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and how it could affect other filmmakers. Vishal emphasized that he was not acting solely in his self-interest but for the sake of future producers who might encounter similar challenges in the certification process.

Vishal’s video concluded with a plea to Chief Minister Shinde and Prime Minister Modi, urging them to take appropriate action based on the evidence he presented. He underscored the importance of fighting corruption, even within institutions like the CBFC, and drew attention to the need for change in the system.