'How can they break the FDs?': Upasana Singh alleges CINTAA’s Rs 90 lakh FDs lakh fixed deposits were accessed without consent, names Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure

The ongoing dispute over the management of the Cine and Television Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) has taken another turn, with former office-bearer Upasana Singh making fresh allegations over the organisation’s bank accounts and fixed deposits. Singh has claimed that funds belonging to CINTAA were transferred after an account that had allegedly been frozen was accessed. She has also questioned how the association’s fixed deposits could have been withdrawn without members being consulted.Upasana Singh alleges CINTAA account was accessed after being frozenAccording to IANS, in an exclusive conversation with the news agency, Upasana Singh claimed that CINTAA has bank accounts and fixed deposits across five banks. She alleged that the banks had been informed about the dissolution of the previous committee and were asked to keep the accounts frozen until a new committee formally took charge.“We have FDs in five banks and accounts in five banks. When our committee was dissolved, Deepak Parashar was the treasurer. So, we informed all the banks that the committee had been dissolved. We told them that when a new committee comes, whoever takes charge, the accounts can be opened. Until then, they should remain frozen,” Upasana Singh told IANS.She said the understanding was that the accounts would become operational only after the legal status of the new committee was established.According to Singh, the issue came to light after the committee believed it had secured a recent victory and planned to approach the banks again. She alleged that the account had already been accessed before the banks were formally informed about the new committee.“When we won a few days ago, we thought we would again inform them that this committee has come in. But our understanding was that the accounts would be opened only after a court order came stating that this committee would now function. Until then, they should not be opened,” she said.Singh further alleged that money from CINTAA’s fixed deposits had been transferred after the account was accessed.“We found out that the account had already been opened. They had opened their account there, and the money from CINTAA’s FDs was transferred into it. They have used that money in different places,” she alleged.Upasana Singh questions how CINTAA’s FDs could be brokenSingh also questioned the procedure allegedly followed to access CINTAA’s fixed deposits. She argued that members should have been consulted before the association’s funds were withdrawn.“It is such a big issue because if you want to break the FDs of any institution, you have to ask the members first. How can they break the FDs?” she said.When asked whether an authorised signature would have been required to carry out such a transaction, Singh alleged that office staff helped facilitate access to the account.“They must have needed an authorised signature. But you see, the account was frozen. So what did they do? They met the office staff. The office staff is involved with them. They took the staff to the bank and showed them the stamp, the email ID and the office, and asked them to open the account through KYC,” she alleged.Upasana Singh names Poonam Dhillon and Padmini KolhapureWhile recounting what she alleged happened at the bank, Singh specifically named actors Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure, besides Paintal.“They took Paintal saab, Poonam and Padmini and told the bank, ‘This is our stamp, this is our email ID and this is our office. You open our account through KYC.’ The staff was also there and showed the bank that this was their office,” she claimed.Singh also questioned whether those involved had the authority to represent themselves as CINTAA office-bearers.“When you are not holding any position and you are not the general secretary, how can you say that you are the general secretary? They declared themselves as the committee,” Upasana alleged.CINTAA has around Rs 90 lakh in FDs, claims Upasana SinghSingh said the alleged movement of funds took place through multiple transactions and that the exact number of fixed deposits that may have been accessed was not yet known.“The money was transferred in different ways. We don't know how many FDs have been broken because we have around Rs 90 lakh there,” she told IANS.The allegation comes amid a wider dispute over CINTAA’s administration and competing claims surrounding the association’s committee and control of its financial accounts. The controversy has previously involved allegations over frozen bank accounts and the functioning of the association.Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure have previously rejected allegationsThe latest allegations should be viewed in the context of the ongoing CINTAA dispute. Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure have previously publicly disputed allegations made by Singh and other former members. In an August press interaction, the two addressed accusations concerning CINTAA’s functioning and finances, with Dhillon denying wrongdoing and Kolhapure also rejecting the claims. In September, Dhillon and Kolhapure also spoke publicly about CINTAA’s frozen accounts, alleging that the freezing had affected the association’s welfare activities and staff payments.As of the latest IANS report on October 1, 2026, there was no response from Dhillon or Kolhapure specifically addressing Singh’s fresh allegations about the alleged breaking of the FDs. The claims remain allegations and have not been independently established.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!