Mohanlal returns money taken for 'flopped' show

Sticking to his stand, Malayalam actor Mohanlal has returned Rs 1.63 crore he had received for a 'flopped' show during the National Games inauguration.
The Games Secretariat had received a cheque from the actor and would start the procedure for sending it for collection, a top official said today.
The Secretariat had not received any formal order from the government not to accept the money from the actor, National Games Secretariat CEO Jacob Punnoose told reporters here.
"Before coming for the press conference, I have signed the receipt (for the cheque)," he said.
Amid heated controversy over the show by Mohanlal's band Lalisom, which prompted the actor to offer return of Rs 1.63 crore, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had on February 4 said the government would not take back the money.

Expressing regret over the controversies centring around the show, Chandy had said the Government's morality would not allow it to take back the money.
Facing criticism from several quarters that the show was a flop and that some performers had bluffed viewers by lip-synching, Mohanlal had offered to return the amount.