The well-known TV producer Niko Tuparev has been detained, the Ministry of the Interior confirms for bTV. At the moment, the police are not saying why Tuparev was detained
He was detained for financial crimes, claims “24 Hour“, but they do not report details.
A few weeks ago, the Commission for the Protection of Competition announced that they were filing a case against Tuparev and his partners following a tip from their business partner for diverting profits from Tuparev's main production company to other smaller companies.
The CPC has not announced its decision on the case.
Niko Tuparev is a television producer of one of the most popular shows on the Bulgarian airwaves.
At the moment, the police are not saying why Tuparev was detained.
The Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) has self-reported and started an investigation into the illegal practices of the rings of companies around Nikola Tuparev, better known as Niko, with which he siphoned millions from Nova and bTV. According to the initial data, it is about the colossal BGN 100 million, Narod.bg wrote a few days ago.
Due to the numerous evidence gathered by the CPC in recent years, the commission annuls investigations into a wet order against partner Niko Tuparev, who, through a complex financial and legal scheme and with front companies, drained millions of BGN from the TV formats “The Bachelor”, “Big Brother” , “Vip Brother”, “Dancing Stars”, “Get Rich”, “Games of Will”, “The Cherry on the Cake”, “Hells Kitchen”, “My Star Kitchen” with Sylvena Rowe and many others on Nova and bTV. Another aspect is being investigated – whether the private television stations themselves did not participate in the fraudulent practice, stressed the source of Narod.bg.
According to experts, based on public documents, Niko Tuparev earns on an annual basis through his network of affiliated “Old School” companies. EOOD with Maya Todorova and Radoslav Tushev, “Ef Hicks Camera” Ltd. with Maya Todorova and Radoslav Tushev, “Republic of Content” Ltd. with Maya Todorova and Radoslav Tushev, “Tu by Tu” Ltd. with Vitomir Sarivanov and “Bulgarian Film Production Services” EOOD from their work in the national televisions bTV and Nova between BGN 4 and 7 million per year, draining money from television budgets.
It is expected that a fine of a percentage of the turnover for 5 years will be imposed on bTV, Nova and Niko Tuparev himself, as well as on his partners Maya Todorova, Radoslav Tushev and Vitomir Sarivanov, who were pushed into the schemes.
According to experts, it is a question of a fine in the amount of tens of millions of BGN. This is another huge blow to Nova and bTV in recent days after the loss of gambling budgets, whose advertising is falling from the small screen.