After Javed Akhtar’s letter, 2 IPRS office-bearers chargesheeted
The case came to light after lyricist Javed Akhtar shot off a letter to the Ministry of Union Human Resource Development complaining about the alleged wrongdoings in IPRS in 2013.
The Mumbai police Wednesday filed an over 1,000-page chargesheet against two office-bearers of the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS). The police have chargesheeted Hasan Kamal and Om Prakash Sonik for cheating and forgery on a complaint filed by Anand Srivastav, the president of Music Composers Association of India (MCAI).
When contacted, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) KMM Prasanna confirmed the development.
The case came to light after lyricist Javed Akhtar shot off a letter to the Ministry of Union Human Resource Development complaining about the alleged wrongdoings in IPRS in 2013.
IPRS is an organisation that safeguards the copyright of music composers and lyricists. The ministry had sought a reply from IPRS which had reverted with a letter bearing signatures of its members.
The letter refuted the allegations made by Akhtar and supported the organisation. The ministry doubted the signatures on the letter and asked the MCAI to probe and lodge a complaint.
The MCAI, after its probe, lodged a complaint with the Mumbai Police. Looking at the complexity of the case, it was transferred to the Mumbai Crime branch.
“During the course of investigation, we found that the signatures on the letter sent by IPRS in their defence to the ministry was indeed forged. We also found substance in the allegation made by Akhtar. The members’ signatures were taken for some other purpose, forged and then put on the letter sent to the ministry,” an officer said.
mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
Source:: Indian Express
