Actor Vishal detained for attempting to forcibly enter TFPC; rival group meets TN CM

High drama prevailed at the office of the Tamil Film Producers Council here Thursday when its president, actor Vishal Krishna, was detained by police for trying to forcibly enter its premises and reportedly attempting to break the lock put up by a rival faction.

The rival faction of producers had locked up the premises on Wednesday, reportedly dissatisfied with the functioning of Vishal and his elected associates besides levelling allegations of irregularities, police said.

The lock was finally opened by government authorities in the presence of a strong posse of policemen.

Meanwhile, a section of producers, led by ace director Bharathirajaa, met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on the matter and sought the government's intervention to settle the dispute.

Bharathirajaa alleged "lack of transparency" in the existing Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and that it was working from an "anonymous building" and therefore, had been locked up on Wednesday.

Veteran star Kamal Haasan said the charges against Vishal should be probed and expressed hope the latter had the heart to allow the same.

Meanwhile, Vishal and his supporters denied any wrongdoing on their part, with the popular actor saying he was ready to provide the accounts of expenses in the Council.

Visuals showed the actor-politician, who arrived at the TFPC office at T Nagar with his supporters, insisting on breaking the lock and entering the office, saying it was an "unauthorised" one.

Police officials were seen advising him to wait as some government officials were on their way to address the issue, or at least bring the original key and open the lock.

An adamant Vishal was seen insisting on breaking open the lock.

An argument ensued between him and the police personnel following which he was detained for alleged "unlawful assembly," police said.

Vishal lashed out at the police and vowed to "fight back" and said the police action against him was "unbelievable".

"Police were mute yesterday wen unauthorised ppl locked the doors & gates of TFPC...," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Bharathirajaa said the Council's General Council, a key body that discusses a number of issues, has not met for the last two years.

"There is no transparency in this Council. The TFPC is working from an anonymous building, so we locked it up. We met the chief minister since the government is the proper forum to take up such issues," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, K Rajan, part of the group of producers which met the chief minister, said they were seeking answers for issues including financial accounts.

Of the Rs 7.80 crore in the Council's accounts, only