Days after the Delhi High Court stayed the sacking of National Film Development Corporation's (NFDC) managing director Nina Lath Gupta, the I&B Ministry has now reportedly approached the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into alleged corruption and commercial irregularities under her tenure.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had terminated the services Gupta from NFDC – which comes under the government – on grounds of alleged irregularities on 27 February.
However, after she filed a petition contesting her sacking, the Delhi HC stayed the ministry’s order, and she was reinstated as the NFDC MD.
Regarding the request by the ministry to the CBI, a source was quoted by The Indian Express as saying:
The letter to CBI seeking a criminal enquiry into the conduct of the former MD would serve as initiation of disciplinary proceedings against her.Source to The Indian Express
Sources also told the The Indian Express that a 2013-14 internal audit report will form the basis of the CBI probe, while indicating that there have multiple complaints regarding the irregularities.
Officials had earlier told media that Gupta was found not adhering to “prescribed procedures” and engaged in several irregularities, such as the release of advertisement spots to some private channels beyond the five percent limit, as well as a non-refund of 15 percent commission to the client ministry.
Moreover, it is also alleged that under Gupta's tenure, the NFDC charged the ministries a fee in excess of the real expenditures for various events, including Khelo India, the MODI (Making of Developed India) Festival and the National Youth Festival.
After Gupta was sacked from the NFDC, various colleagues expressed their dissatisfaction with the I&B Ministry, as they praised her for being “dedicated, courageous and visionary.”
Nina Lath Gupta took charge of the NFDC in 2006.
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