Leela Samson booked over fiscal irregularities

New Delhi, December 14

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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 their houses.

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). 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. 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 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 this. — PTI