Mukesh to be dropped from film policy committee amid allegations; Vinayan requests B Unnikrishnan's removal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Actor and MLA Mukesh will be dropped from the film policy making committee. A decision regarding this will be taken today. The action is being taken in the context of allegations against Mukesh. Director Vinayan has written to the Chief Minister requesting the removal of director B Unnikrishnan from the committee.

The letter reads, 'We humbly request that B. Unnikrishnan, who has been punished by the Competition Commission of India and upheld by the Supreme Court, be removed from the policy-making committee of the government.' Vinayan filed a complaint with the Competition Commission of India against the denial of employment and the secret ban in Malayalam cinema. Based on the judgment passed on that day, a penalty of Rs 4,00,065 and Rs 85,594 was imposed on FEFKA under section three of the Competition Act.

The then AMMA President Innocent has a penalty of Rs 51,478, Secretary Idavela Babu Rs 19,113, FEFKA President Sibi Malayil Rs 66,356 and FEFKA General Secretary B Unnikrishnan Rs 32,026. Organizations and individuals appealed against this in the Supreme Court, but the court rejected the appeal and upheld the sentence.

The committee, headed by Shaji N Karun, has culture department secretary, film academy secretary, actors Mukesh, Manju Warrier, Padmapriya, Nikhila Vimal, directors Rajeev Ravi, B Unnikrishnan and producer Santhosh Kuruvila as members. Manju Warrier and Rajeev Ravi withdrew citing personal inconvenience.