Lakshmi Priya alleges Shwetha Menon's exit cost AMMA ₹15 lakh Adani Group donation

Actress and former Vice-President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), Lakshmi Priya, has made a series of claims about the circumstances that led to the resignation of the organisation's governing committee, alleging that internal opposition prevented president Shwetha Menon from continuing in office.

Speaking in an interview with a YouTube channel, Lakshmi Priya claimed that AMMA would have received a ₹15 lakh donation from the Adani Group if Shwetha Menon had remained president. According to her, the funds were due to be transferred to the organisation's account on July 14 through Shwetha Menon's contacts.

She alleged that actors Siddique, Edavela Babu and Baburaj worked against the committee led by Shwetha Menon and deliberately prevented it from completing its term.

"I am saddened by the dissolution of AMMA. I had already decided to resign as Vice-President and was even prepared to give up my membership. Shwetha requested just 45 more days to present the accounts before the General Body after speaking for seven hours. Had that request been accepted, AMMA would have received ₹15 lakh from the Adani Group on July 14," Lakshmi Priya said.

She further claimed that receiving the donation would have strengthened Shwetha Menon's position within the organisation.

"If the money had reached AMMA, Shwetha Menon could have continued as president for years, just as Innocent did. Others would not have been able to interfere. This was not money that could have been raised through a stage show. It was possible only because of Shwetha Menon's contacts. That is why she was removed," she alleged.

Lakshmi Priya also accused Siddique, Edavela Babu and Baburaj of working against the committee.

In the same interview, Lakshmi Priya made derogatory remarks about actress Ansiba. Following the interview, Ansiba lodged a complaint with the Palarivattom Police in Kochi, accusing Lakshmi Priya of making obscene and defamatory statements.

The governing committee led by Shwetha Menon resigned during AMMA's General Body meeting held last Sunday, following heated disagreements over the organisation's annual accounts. All 17 members of the committee, including president Shwetha Menon and general secretary Kukku Parameswaran, stepped down before completing a year in office.

At the meeting, some members attempted to move a no-confidence motion against the committee. Others objected to the income and expenditure statement presented by the general secretary, arguing that the accounts lacked clarity and should not be approved. Siddique, Baburaj and Edavela Babu were among those who opposed adopting the report, while members including Renji Panicker maintained that the accounts contained discrepancies that needed to be addressed.

As tensions escalated, Shwetha Menon announced her resignation, following which the entire governing committee stepped down.

It was later reported that Baburaj had alleged Shwetha Menon accepted money to recommend candidates to the BJP, an accusation that is said to have contributed to her decision to resign.