Guwahati: Checks issued to eight winners of the Assam State Film Awards were returned by the bank on Friday.

As per sources, nine cheques given to eight winners were returned by the bank when presented for clearance.

However, the awards were conferred on Monday.

Aparajita Pujari, who won the Best Writer Award in Cinema for 2018, said, “I deposited the check on Friday and got a call from the bank that it bounced. Immediately I called the organizers and they said there was insufficient balance.”

Cheques were handed over to other prominent film personalities like Amrit Pritam (Sound Design), Debajit Changmai (Sound Mixing), Pranjal Deka (Direction), Debajit Gayan (Sound Design and Mixing) and Benjamin Daimary (Acting) also bounced, sources said.

Meanwhile, the cheques are signed by the Director of Cultural Affairs.

Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Borah asked his officials to conduct an enquiry immediately.

On Saturday, the organisers called Pujari and asked her to deposit the cheque again. “They have said it will be cleared this time,” she said.

The state film awards ceremony is organised by the Assam State Film Finance & Development Corporation (ASFFDC).

ASFFDC said that the cheques got bounced due to a technical reason.

They further added that on the first day the cheques worth Rs. 18 lahks were cleared, but nine cheques of eight persons bounced on the second day.

The problem has been corrected and all eight people have been individually informed on Saturday to deposit their cheques, he added.

Controversy had marred the Awards after it came to light that Nahid Afrin, who has been conferred the best female playback singer award, was given the recognition for a song she had not sung.