La Jornada: “No one investigates” the alleged fraud in Inbal against the muralist Polo Castellanos

“Nothing has happened, no one is investigating,” lamented the painter Leopoldo Hernández Castellanos, one year after the complaint he filed with the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) in June for an alleged fraud committed against him by the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (Inbal).

Faced with such a situation, the teacher – known in the artistic world as Polo Castellanos – filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) for “serious violations” of human rights. However, a few days ago the agency declared itself incompetent with the argument that, according to the law, it can only pursue complaints when “these are attributed to authorities and federal public servants.”

In its response, the CNDH suggested the artist “contact the staff of the Federal Institute of Public Defenders”, whose mission – explained in the document – ​​is to guarantee the right to public defense, access to justice through guidance, advice and legal representation in administrative, fiscal, civil and criminal cases.

“It is the height of cynicism,” Castellanos described, considering that this national body “is washing its hands” by ignoring that Inbal and the FGR carry out federal functions and are committing human rights violations against them.

Faced with this, the muralist promoted an amparo and is only waiting for what the district judge rules to determine if he goes to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. “It will not be the first time that Mexico is accused of corruption. The cynicism with which they are operating has to stop. The most serious thing is the state of defenselessness in which we citizens find ourselves,” he stated.

In an interview, Castellanos considered the course of these more than 12 months “an absolute labyrinth of simulation and institutional abandonment.” According to him, the prosecutors of the Peralvillo Territorial Coordination of the Attorney General’s Office (FGJ) of Mexico City – who were pressuring for the FGR to receive the file again as it was a federal matter – were removed.

The file, he added, was sent to the agency’s “bunker” and is currently lost. “It’s the last straw,” he considered.

The complaint that he presented to the CNDH indicates that public servants from the FGR and Inbal are responsible for violations of the rights of access to justice, property, truth, identity and an effective investigation, plus whatever arises from there.

“It cannot be that they proclaim justice and attention to victims when they are doing the opposite. Two things remain: inefficiency and protection of officials,” he said.

The antecedent

The origin of this case – which was aired by The Day on March 16 and which has since been followed up by information – dates back to the beginning of 2024, when the artist was invited to collaborate as a teacher at the Inbal School of Artistic Initiation 1.

Although he never taught classes or received a single peso, upon reviewing his tax return in April 2025 – corresponding to the previous year – he discovered that the institute had issued payroll tax receipts in his name for about a year.

Inbal himself acknowledged, according to documents in the possession of the affected person, the existence of two positions in his name, checks issued and even a resignation that he never signed. Given this, the FGR declared its incompetence, arguing that it was “a matter between individuals and common law.” However, in parallel, the Special Prosecutor’s Office in Combating Corruption – also dependent on the FGR – began an investigation into alleged acts of corruption in Inbal and summoned Castellanos on March 19 as a witness, not a victim.

“It is an absurd contradiction. The same prosecutor’s office tells me on the one hand that it is not competent and on the other hand it recognizes that there are federal crimes committed by public officials. I feel like I am inside a Franz Kafka novel. It is the most absolute state of helplessness.”

Castellanos also revealed that, although the FGR asked Inbal to cancel the tax receipts, the institute did not do so and in April of this year, as part of the 2025 fiscal year, at least five new digital tax receipts appeared online.

“They lied to the prosecutor’s office saying that they had already canceled them. That level of cynicism is unbearable. The Treasury refuses to recognize the payment of those for 2024, which are more than 70 (receipts),” he explained.