Big kickback for Bollywood stars at the beginning of the new year! Accusations against them have sparked a new wave of controversies.

The RTI probe has uncovered significant donations to the Mumbai Police Foundation (MPF) from Bollywood actors like Akshay Kumar, Rohit Shetty, Anushka Sharma, and Tiger Shroff. From May 2018 to March 2023, the MPF received Rs 25.49 crore, a significant increase in contributions during the pandemic.

Significant increase during Covid at MPF

The fund was established in May 2018, modeled after the New York City Police Foundation, and aims to ensure the welfare and support of the police force.

Citizens have witnessed a significant increase in MPF donations during the Covid-19 pandemic to support frontline workers. Donations have since declined, creating a challenge in maintaining visibility and steady flow of contributions to the Fund in the post-pandemic era.

Who’s the largest Contributor?

According to the RTI, Akshay Kumar was the highest individual contributor, donating Rs 2 crore on April 27, 2020. Rohit Shetty, known for police-themed movies, gave Rs 50 lakh in 2022. Other contributors included Anushka Sharma (Rs 2 lakh on May 6, 2020) and Tiger Shroff (Rs 2.5 lakh on May 2, 2020).

A year later, Mumbai Police booked Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani for violating Covid-19 norms.

In addition to celebrities, corporate entities such as Excel Entertainment, Tips Industries, and Maddock Films have made significant contributions, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. In addition to celebrities, corporate bodies such as Excel Entertainment, Tips Industries, and Maddock Films have made significant contributions, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.

The fund has also witnessed contributions from entities currently or previously embroiled in legal entanglements with the Mumbai police, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest.

What’s the allegation?

Bollywood’s contributions to the MPF, especially during the pandemic, have sparked controversies, prompting scrutiny and questions regarding transparency and conflicts of interest.

According to a report by the Indian Express, spanning from May 2018 to March 2023, a total of Rs 25.49 crore has been received from contributors to the Mumbai Police Foundation (MPF).

Notably, during the initial 22 months after its establishment in May 2018, the MPF recorded zero contributions. From March 2020, amidst the pandemic, the fund saw a notable surge in collections. A total of Rs 15.87 crore was collected in the short time, which amounted to an estimated 60% of the overall collections.

Addressing concerns regarding conflicts of interest, a senior police officer responsible for overseeing the MPF fund clarified that they perform thorough background checks on donors for transparency. The officer emphasized that in cases where individuals were charge-sheeted, the police relinquished control over investigations, minimizing the potential influence of contributions on active probes