File Picture Courtesy : Indian Express
A Supreme Court Bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, dismissed a fresh petition seeking an order to restrain the producers of movie Padmavati from releasing it abroad.
According to report by PTI, the lawyer M L Sharma also sought a direction to the CBI to register a case against film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and others for various ‘offences’, including defamation and violation of the Cinematography Act.
”Grave damage would be done to social harmony if the movie is allowed to be released outside India”, the petitioner argued.
“When a matter is pending for consideration before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), how can persons in public authority comment on whether the CBFC should issue certificate or not? It will prejudice the decision of CBFC,” a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said in a report by PTI.
Politicians of all hues, including some chief ministers, have recently made public statements, mostly against the film based on the saga of the historic battle of 13th century between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.
The Bench, which also comprised Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, termed “misconceived”, the prayers sought by Mr. Sharma in his fresh petition.
The Bench, however, did not impose cost on Mr. Sharma, keeping in view the fact that he has been a practising lawyer of the apex court.
The set of the movie was vandalised twice — in Jaipur and Kolhapur — and Mr. Bhansali was roughed up by members of Karni Sena during the Jaipur schedule of the film earlier this year.
