Can\'t pass order at this stage on Congress leader\'s plea seeking stay on modi biopic: SC

Can't pass order at this stage on Congress leader's plea seeking stay on modi biopic: SC

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

The Monday said it cannot pass an order at this stage on a plea seeking stay on the release of a biopic on as the is yet to certify the film.

The apex court said it will hear the matter Tuesday and could possibly pass an order if the petitioner brings on record that what the film depicts is highly objectionable.

A bench headed by refused the plea of the petitioner, activist Aman Panwar, that the copy of the film should be given to him.

"Why should we direct that individual be given a copy of the film," said the bench, also comprising Justices and

"We fail to understand why such a direction be given," the bench said.

At the outset, the CJI said the film is not yet certified and referred to April 4 statement by Central Board of (CBFC) given to about it.

Joshi had told that the film was undergoing due process of examination and certification.

"Since there are a lot of queries around the certification of the film, (I) would like to give a clear picture: the film is going through the due process of examination and certification according to the requisite guidelines and is yet to be certified as the process is not complete at this point," Joshi had said.

A M Singhvi, appearing for the activist, said the producer had come out with a statement that the biopic would be released on April 11.

Taking note of his submission, the bench said the producer may have come out with such a statement on release of the biopic on April 11 anticipating that the film would get the certification from the

The bench said as of now there is no cause of action for challenging release of the film.

When Singhvi repeated for further stay on the biopic, the bench said, "How can we stop the release of the film. It is not yet certified. There is only a statement from the producer for its release."

Singhvi submitted that there was no level playing field and allowing the release of the film would be a direct assault on the structure of the Constitution.

However, the bench said it cannot decide on the grievances raised by the petitioner as it did not know what was there in the film.

Singhvi also submitted that the judges themselves can see the film in advance to decide and decide the matter.

He said the lead actor, Vivek Oberoi, has been named as the star for the in the Lok Sabha elections.

His father, who was also an actor, is a card holder of

"You have the power to call for the screening of the movie," the told the bench.

"The film has considerable ramifications as it would be screened for the coming 40 days across the country," he said.

The plea has sought deferment of release of the biopic till the completion of upcoming Lok Sabha polls alleging that it was designed to "manipulate, influence and impress viewers and voters".

Titled "PM Modi", the biopic which was slated to be released on April 5, has been postponed till further notice, Ssingh said on Thursday.

The plea has sought direction from the court declaring that advertisement and promotion of the movie during the operation of the Model Code of Conduct violates electoral laws.

It has sought directions to the Centre, CBFC and EC to delay its release till the completion of the next month.

The bench of the had earlier rejected a plea seeking ban on the release. The had also disposed of a plea seeking deferment of the biopic's release, saying the will deal with the issue.

"The movie was driven by no artistic inspiration and was instead designed to manipulate, influence and impress viewers and voters in the upcoming elections," the plea has said.

It said there were several facts which demonstrated that the movie was not an innocuous work of art, despite the repeated statements of the producers, the director and the lead to the contrary.

It said that released the first poster of the president Amit Shah, was also scheduled to release other similar promotional materials.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, April 08 2019. 14:05 IST