Vishal appears in HC in Radha Ravi case

Actor Vishal, the general secretary of the South Indian Artistes Association, on Friday, appeared before the Madras high court and gave an explanation on why veteran actor Radha Ravi was expelled from the Nadigar Sangam.

He submitted that Sarath Kumar and Radha Ravi were removed from the association following a demand from a majority of the SIAA members.

Justice MM Sundresh had issued statutory notice to Vishal earlier and accordingly, he appeared before the judge on Friday.

The judge dispensed with his appearance in future hearings and posted the case for January 18.

In an affidavit filed in support of the contempt application, Radha Ravi said the artistes association was founded in 1952 and that he was a member of it for the last 34 years.

He held the post of president for 14 years between 1986 and 2000 and that of the secretary for nine years besides having been an executive committee member for six more years. He claimed to have reduced the financial burden of the association to a great extent.

However, after a new set of office-bearers took charge of the association under the leadership of actor Vishal on October 18, 2015, a show-cause notice was issued to the contempt applicant on March 16, 2016, accusing him of having misappropriated the funds of a trust linked to the association.

Ravi sent a written reply on April 2, 2016, denying the allegations. Nevertheless, his membership was suspended on September 11, 2016.