Supreme Court slams people in ‘public office’ for making ‘reckless statements’ about upcoming Deepika Padukone film Padmavati
- The film has been accused to trying to re-write history for entertainment
- Padmini (also Padmavati) is a legendary 13th-14th century Indian queen
- Padmini’s story is of a Rajput queen defending honour against a Muslim invader
- Muslim invader Alauddin Khilji wanted to capture Padmini and her kingdom
- But Padmini and her companions committed ‘Jauhar’ (self-immolation)
- Hindu right-wing organisations are angry about an alleged romantic scene begin filmed between Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji
- The sequence is between Bollywood’s Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone
- See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome
Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone
Fuming at several reckless statements made by ‘people holding public office’ about Deepika Padukone-starrer Padmavati, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said it could prejudice the censor board’s decision ahead of the movie’s release.
‘These statements are tantamount to pre-judging the movie which is yet to be certified by the CBFC,’ said the apex court.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked additional solicitors general Maninder Singh who represented the central government to convey the court’s views that such statements should not be made as they violated the principle of ‘Rule of Law’.
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.
Deepika Padukone was upset by the attack on artist Karan and his artwork
‘When a matter is pending for consideration before CBFC, how can persons in public authority comment on whether the CBFC should issue certificate or not? It will prejudice the decision of CBFC,’ said a bench headed by Misra.
The judges termed as ‘misconceived’ and dismissed a fresh petition seeking an order to restrain Viacom 18, the maker of the film and others, from releasing it abroad.
The producers informed the court that there was no intention to release the movie abroad on December 1, as alleged.
Hindu right-wing organisations are angry about an alleged romantic scene begin filmed between Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji
The petition had alleged that grave damage will be done to social harmony if the movie is allowed to be released outside India.
The SC said when the courts were not making any observation, keeping in mind that the CBFC has to perform its statutory duty, persons holding high offices should desist from making statements. It asked the CBFC to take the decision on the certification of the movie with utmost objectivity.
In his plea, lawyer ML Sharma had also sought a direction to the CBI to register a case against director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and others for various offences, including defamation and violation of the Cinematography Act.
The bench expressed shock at certain objectionable contents of the petition and termed them unwarranted and scurrilous and ordered their deletion.
It took serious note of the statements made by politicians, holding high public offices, on the movie which also stars Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, saying these tantamounted to prejudging it which is yet to be certified by the CBFC.
‘When the matter is pending and going to be dealt with by the CBFC, no one, who is holding public office, should be saying something which would tantamount to pre-judging and may prejudice the mind of CBFC. It should be borne in mind that we all are governed by the Rule of Law’, it said.