Actor Manideepa Mallick on Monday refused to accept the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, which has been mired in controversy over alleged nepotism.
Manideepa is the wife of Akademi Secretary Dhirendranath Mallick. The award which was announced five days ago for the years 2014 and 2015 had put questions over its neutrality after the name of Manideepa found place in the list of awardees.
Manideepa told reporters that she decided not to take the award owing the controversy.
The awards, announced last Wednesday, would be presented at a ceremony to be held here onMarch 29. The awardees would receive a cash reward of `30, 000, a citation and a memento each.
The awards are the highest honour for performing arts in the State.