Narendra Modi biopic: SC refuses urgent listing of plea seeking stay on film’s release
The petition alleged that the film was made to ‘manipulate, influence and impress viewers and voters’.
The Supreme Court on Friday turned down a request for the urgent listing of a plea that sought a stay on the release of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PTI reported. PM Narendra Modi was scheduled for release on April 5, but has reportedly been postponed.
“What biopic? We have not seen it,” PTI quoted the bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as saying. “Perhaps we will watch it over the weekend, then you mention.”
The Supreme Court had agreed to hear Congress leader Aman Panwar’s petition on April 8. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for petitioner, had said the film’s release may affect free and fair elections. The petition also alleged that the film was made to “manipulate, influence and impress viewers and voters”.
High Courts in Bombay, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh have already rejected petitions demanding a stay on the release of the film. The courts said they would not intervene in the matter as the Election Commission had take cognisance of the film.
On Wednesday, the Congress described the biopic as an “example of absolute desperation” based on a “flop person who proved to be zero”. The party had said it had complained to the Election Commission about the film’s release before the polls.
The film features Vivek Oberoi as the prime minister through various stages of his life – including his early years with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and his long stint as chief minister of Gujarat – leading up to his party’s victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Last week, the poll panel had issued a notice to the makers of PM Narendra Modi and the BJP following the Opposition’s demand that the film’s release be postponed till the Lok Sabha elections are over. In response, the producers of the film – Anand K Pandit, Sandeep Ssingh, Manish Acharya and Suresh Oberoi – had said they have no link with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and that they had put in their personal money to make the film.