Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Poonam Dhillon Alleges CINTAA Members Barred Amid CAWT Dispute
CINTAA and the Cine Artistes Welfare Trust are arguing about who controls an office building.
Poonam Dhillon, CINTAA’s president, said guards stopped CINTAA staff and elected members from entering.
She said an email called CAWT the owner of CINTAA Tower.
Dhillon said CINTAA had contributed Rs 6 crore to help build the tower.
She said both groups had agreed to share office space.
She also said CAWT was supposed to provide welfare activities for CINTAA members.
Other CINTAA members said notices first restricted members and later restricted staff.
The situation happened while CINTAA was also facing disagreements among its leaders.
Eleven executive committee members had resigned, and the election process was challenged in court.
CINTAA president Poonam Dhillon alleged that staff and elected members were stopped from entering CINTAA Tower.
Dhillon said an email identified the Cine Artistes Welfare Trust as the building’s actual owner.
She alleged that CINTAA contributed Rs 6 crore toward construction and was promised shared office space and welfare activities.
CINTAA members Deepak Qazir Kejriwal and Abhay Bhargav said notices restricting entry were issued and later changed.
The dispute follows executive committee resignations and legal challenges surrounding CINTAA’s election process.
- Who
- CINTAA president Poonam Dhillon, CINTAA members and staff, and the Cine Artistes Welfare Trust are involved.
- What
- CINTAA members and staff were allegedly denied entry to CINTAA Tower amid a dispute over the building’s ownership, access and control.
- When
- The allegations were discussed on Monday; a court allowed the elections to proceed on September 9, and the elections took place on September 12.
- Where
- CINTAA Tower in Mumbai.
- Why
- The dispute concerns CAWT’s reported ownership claim, CINTAA’s alleged Rs 6 crore contribution, and an arrangement for shared offices and welfare activities.
CINTAA’s Position
Reported CAWT Ownership Position
Building control
CINTAA’s Position
Dhillon said CINTAA members helped build the tower and that CINTAA contributed Rs 6 crore toward its construction.
Reported CAWT Ownership Position
An email reportedly identified the Cine Artistes Welfare Trust as the building’s actual owner; the reports do not include a direct CAWT response.
Access to the office
CINTAA’s Position
CINTAA representatives said members and staff should be able to enter and work from the premises under the reported shared-office arrangement.
Reported CAWT Ownership Position
Notices reportedly restricted access first for CINTAA members and later for staff, although the reports do not explain CAWT’s position on the restrictions.
Staff status
CINTAA’s Position
Dhillon argued that CAWT could not exclude CINTAA staff because they are employees of CINTAA.
Reported CAWT Ownership Position
The reports do not provide CAWT’s position on the employment or access status of CINTAA staff.
- Main speaker
- Poonam Dhillon, president of the Cine and TV Artistes Association
- Disputed property
- CINTAA Tower
- Organizations involved
- Cine and TV Artistes Association and Cine Artistes Welfare Trust
- Reported contribution
- CINTAA allegedly contributed Rs 6 crore toward construction
- Alleged restriction
- CINTAA members and staff were reportedly stopped from entering the premises
- Internal dispute
- Eleven executive committee members resigned the previous month
- Election timeline
- A court allowed the polls on September 9, and the elections took place on September 12
Sources
Poonam Dhillon Alleges CINTAA Members Denied Entry To Office Amid Ongoing Dispute, Says ‘Who Is CAWT To Throw Our Staff Out Of Their Jobs?
Poonam Dhillon alleges CINTAA staff, members were barred from entering office amid CAWT dispute