CBI books Leela Samson over irregularities

Allegedly responsible for losses during renovation of auditorium

New Delhi, December 14

The CBI has booked ace Bharatnatyam dancer and former chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi Leela Samson for alleged “unfruitful expenditure” in Rs 7.02-crore renovation project of Koothambalam auditorium of Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, officials said on Saturday.

Samson, a Padma Shri awardee, and also a former chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification, has been booked along with then officers of the foundation — chief accounts officer TS Murthi, accounts officer S Ramachandran, engineering officer V Srinivasan — and proprietor of CARD and Chennai Engineers, they said. The CBI also conducted searches at the houses of the accused.

In a complaint to the CBI, the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Culture Ministry has alleged that the officials of the foundation awarded the contract for the renovation work to consultant architect CARD in violation of General Finance Rules (GFR), they said. After conducting an inquiry in 2016, the Culture Ministry alleged that the 84-year old foundation had spent Rs 62.20 lakh more than the estimated amount on the project. The estimation given by the Central Public Works Department revealed that the contracts were awarded at a higher rate and the payments made to the contractors accordingly, according to an FIR registered in the case.

Samson was the director of the foundation between May 6, 2005, and April 30, 2012. It was felt in 2006 that the auditorium built by the foundation in 1985 needed renovation, they said.

The 33rd governing body meeting held in 2009 decided to form a civil works advisory committee and PT Krishnan, Leela Samson and Madhavi Mudgal were to prepare necessary estimation based on the recommendations of the governingboard, it said.

The civil works committee appointed CARD as consultant architect in 2010 which gave contracts for 28 renovation works to five contractors while committee also selected some contractors, it said.

The ministry alleged in the complaint that the open tender process was not followed in awarding the contracts.

She was allegedly responsible for the losses incurred by the foundation on account of not opting for open tendering as also mandated by the general body. — PTI