Films cleared by Censor Board during CEO Rakesh Kumar's tenure under scanner: CBI

The CBI on Tuesday said that all the movies cleared by the Censor Board CEO Rakesh Kumar, arrested in a bribery case, are under the scanner, even as a local court remanded him in CBI custody till August 22.

"All the movies that were cleared after Kumar took over as the CEO of the Central Board of Film Certification in January, are under our scanner (for any irregularity)," a CBI official told PTI on Tuesday. Kumar, who was arrested yesterday for allegedly demanding Rs 70,000 as bribe for clearing a regional movie, was sent to CBI custody till August 22 by special CBI judge AD Karanjkar.

The investigative agency told the court that it was a very "deep conspiracy" and there was a need to get to the bottom of it. "Kumar was habitual in collecting money through agents," a CBI counsel told the court.
"It needs to be investigated for whom he issued the certificates (at different point of time) and we also need to get the names of producers, directors and agents," he added.

The court was also told that Kumar used to issue certificates out of turn and documents seized from him contain incriminating substance. "Thirty three costly watches of expensive brands such as Rolex, Rado, etc were found at his home and he did not disclose how it came to him," the CBI said.

It also told the court that Kumar used to demand Rs 1.5 lakh for screening a film in 3 to 4 days; Rs 25,000 for screening in 7 to 8 days and Rs 15,000 for a short film.

"Shripati Mishra (one of the arrested agents) has told the CBI that for 5 to 6 times he paid Kumar amount ranging from Rs 35, 000 to Rs 1.2 lakh collectively worth Rs 5 lakh . The payment used to be delivered at his residence, office or outside as directed by Kumar," CBI told the court.

The agency also said that for the last two months, Sarvesh Jaiswal, arrested advisory member of the board, was collecting money on behalf of Kumar and Mishra had paid Jaiswal around Rs 3.5 lakh.