The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking a stay on the release of the upcoming Bollywood movie 'Padmavati', saying the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) considers all aspects before granting certificate to any film.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said there were enough guidelines to be followed by the censor board to grant certification of a film before its release.
The bench was hearing a plea filed by Siddharajsinh M Chudasama and 11 others, which also sought setting up of a committee of eminent historians to check the veracity of the script to prevent any inaccuracy in the portrayal of Rani Padmavati.
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The petitioners have sought a stay on the release of the film till such time the alleged historical inaccuracies in the movie are corrected by the producer and the director.
Meanwhile, the Allahabad high court has asked a petitioner, seeking a ban on the movie on the ground that it allegedly propoagates the practice of Sati, to approach the censor board with his plea.
A division bench of justices Vikram Nath and Abdul Moin on Thursday refused to interfere into the matter. The petitioner Kamta Prasad Singhal had pleaded that under the Sati (Prevention) Act, the practice was banned and even its propagation was banned and made punishable.
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Citing the said provision, the petitioner claimed that the movie shows women committing sati and therefore, should be banned. Declining to go into the merits of the matter, the bench said the petitioner has another forum where he could appeal for his grievance.
The film features Deepika Padukone as Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji. It is set for release on December 1.
Earlier this year, fringe group Rajput Karni Sena vandalised the sets of the film in Jaipur and roughed up director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. They also destroyed the sets in Kolhapur and set costumes on fire.
Last month, its members destroyed a 'rangoli' created at a Surat mall for "Padmavati" promotions and threatened further disruption.
Bhansali and his team have repeatedly assured the opponents that there are no romantic scenes between Deepika and Ranveer in the film.
The Karni Sena has allegedly threatened to burn the theatres if the film is played in cinema halls before it is shown to them.
Details are awaited...
(With PTI inputs)
