▪️Association rejects reports that Raghu Master has become president
▪️Says Sumalatha’s victory over Raghu Master stands valid under the rules
▪️Kukatpally court restrains September 13 General Body meeting
▪️Association to continue new-member enrolment, says President V.V. Sumalatha Devi
Hyderabad: The ongoing dispute within the Telugu Film and TV Dancers and Dance Directors Association (TFTDDA) has taken a significant turn, with the Kukatpally court issuing an interim injunction restraining a proposed General Body meeting scheduled for September 13.
The association said the court had also restrained certain individuals from using its letterheads, seals and other official documents, and from corresponding with banks and other authorities in the name of the association.
The association representatives maintained that the executive committee elected for the 2025–2027 term under the leadership of President V.V. Sumalatha Devi continues to be the legally valid body. They rejected reports circulating on social media that choreographer Raghu Master had become the association’s president, saying such claims were false.
Alleged unauthorised meeting
According to the petitioner’s submissions, some individuals allegedly attempted to take control of the association in violation of its bye-laws. The petitioner alleged that an unauthorised meeting was held on August 30 without issuing the mandatory prior notices and that a new executive committee was announced at the meeting.
The petitioner also alleged that the association’s official email ID was hacked and that forged letters were sent to the Union Bank of India branch in Jubilee Hills in an alleged attempt to change the signatures authorised to operate the association’s bank accounts.
The court was also informed that approximately Rs.4 crore in funds earmarked for the welfare of members needed immediate legal protection, according to the association representatives.
It was further submitted that the respondents were attempting to convene another General Body meeting at Hotel Anupama in Indira Nagar on September 13.
Court restrains September 13 meeting
The association said the Second Additional Junior Civil Judge Court at Kukatpally, after examining the evidence and copies of police complaints submitted by the petitioner, issued interim orders in the matter.
According to the association, the court directed K. Raghavendra, Y. Meher Babu and other respondents not to conduct any General Body meeting on September 13.
The respondents were also restrained from using the association’s seals, letterheads, minutes book and signatures, and from issuing letters in the name of the association to banks and other authorities, the association said.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on October 12, with notices issued to the respondents, according to the association representatives.
“Ours is the legally valid executive committee”
Speaking to the media after the court’s interim order, TFTDDA President V.V. Sumalatha Devi said the executive committee elected through the ballot-paper process for the 2025–2027 term alone has the authority to administer the association, take decisions and handle its official affairs.
She said the court’s interim order had restrained unauthorised committees or individuals from conducting meetings and also addressed attempts to alter signatures relating to the association’s bank transactions.
No unauthorised person should use the association’s official letterheads, stamps, seals, minutes book or signatures, she said.
Bank accounts frozen to protect funds
Sumalatha Devi said the association’s bank accounts had been frozen as a protective measure to safeguard its funds.
She clarified that bank transactions would be carried out only with the signatures of the President, General Secretary and Treasurer/Cashier.
She further said the process of issuing new membership cards would continue based only on the official directions and list of names received from the Labour Office (JCL).
Warning that anyone attempting to conduct bank transactions or write letters in the association’s name in violation of the court’s orders could face serious legal consequences, she appealed to members not to be misled by what she described as false information.
She urged members who have grievances to sit together and resolve the issues within the union instead of relying on unverified claims.
Talks with Federation
Sumalatha Devi said discussions were being held in a positive atmosphere with Federation President Anil.
She said efforts were underway to convene a General Body meeting within the next four to five days in the presence of Federation elders, with the objective of resolving all outstanding issues.
“Conspiracy by those who lost the election”
The association’s General Secretary alleged that some individuals who lost the election were behind the recent developments.
He said the individuals were allegedly acting out of fear that the association had tightened rules governing programme in-charges and was exposing alleged irregularities committed by them.
“Some people are trying to bring down the board and are taking the support of the Federation. We are discussing with the Federation to understand where differences arose between them and us and are also introspecting on the issue,” he said.
He expressed disappointment that some members of the association themselves were allegedly engaging in activities against the organisation in violation of its rules.
“The body elected through the ballot-paper process is the original body. The reports circulating on social media that Raghu Master has become president are completely false. Simply putting signatures with a pen and forming a body with four people will not be accepted either by the courts or under the association’s rules,” the General Secretary said.
He said the interim court order had further clarified their position and appealed to choreographers and dancers to approach the official association for resolution of their problems rather than believing unverified information circulating on social media.
“Court has acted on fake letterheads”
Association Treasurer/Cashier Israel alleged that some members had earlier made unfounded allegations and created fake letterheads, causing disruption to the association’s functioning.
He said the Kukatpally court had taken note of the issue and provided legal relief.
According to Israel, the court had made it clear that the association’s letterheads, stamp papers and minutes books could not be used indiscriminately by individuals.
He also said discussions had been held with Federation elders, including Anil, and that they had responded positively.
A General Body meeting would be organised in the presence of Federation elders so that the elected executive committee could function smoothly for its 2025–2027 two-year term, he said.
Expressing hope that the court’s intervention would help resolve the dispute, Israel said the association expected the matter to move towards a settlement.
