The CBI said that CEO of Central Board of Film Certification Rakesh Kumar, arrested earlier this week, was suspected to have been demanding bribe during the screening of films before issuance of censor certificate, threatening with cuts if the demand was not met.
“We suspect that other than taking bribe for censor certificates, Kumar was also taking money during the screening process by threatening to cut certain parts if he was not paid,” a CBI officer said.
The bribe taken during the screening process would have been bigger than that demanded for the final certificate, the officer added.
Meanwhile, the court extended the CBI custody of Kumar till August 28.
According to CBI, among other things Kumar took a laptop and an I-pad to grant certificate to the Tamil film ‘Anjaan’.
The film was submitted on July 24 for certification; he examined it six days later and issued the certificate on August 5. “On August 1 he took the consideration,” CBI lawyer told the court.
On August 9, Kumar took Rs 50,000 to issue certificate to Telugu version of a film called ‘Sikander’, according to the CBI.
The central probe agency arrested Kumar on August 18 for taking bribe for clearing a regional film through an agent.
So far three people have been arrested in this case: Kumar, censor board agent Shripati Mishra and member of the advisory panel of CBFC Sarvesh Jaiswal. Mishra and Jaiswal were today remanded in judicial custody till September 5.
CBI also said that it had recorded statements of eight other censor board agents who confirmed that Kumar took ‘illegal gratification’ for clearing films.
