Mumbai: In what can spell troubles for the makers of the film ‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi’, the Bombay High Court on Friday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to clarify if the film’s release would breach the model code of conduct. This comes after a Pune-based activist has moved the HC seeking a stay on the film.
A bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice Nitin Jamdar issued notice to the ECI and has asked the polling authority to file its reply by Monday. The petitioner, Satish Gaikwad, approached the bench through his counsel Tosif Shaikh seeking an urgent hearing. The bench granted the same and has kept the matter for hearing on Monday morning.
Gaikwad, who is the national president of Republican Party of India (I), has claimed that the film can influence voters.”I being a sensible citizen of this country have the apprehension that the contents of the film may influence the innocent voters of this country,” the plea reads.
The petition filed by Gaikwad further highlights the fact that the ECI had enforced the model code of conduct way back on March 10 for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He claims that actor-producer Suresh Oberoi has connived with others and has deliberately ensured that the film releases during the polls.
“Oberoi got the trailer of the film released on March 20. I say that the time and date (when the trailer was released) cannot be taken as simpliciter, the reason was to unveil it after the enforcement of the code of conduct.
Not only him rather all the makers and also the concerned authorities (including CBFC and Ministry of I&B) have syndicated to get the trailer released while disobeying the code of conduct,” the plea reads.
The plea also cites the release of the first look of the film, which was unveiled by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on January 7 this year. “CM Fadnavis in the said event stated that the film will be a source of inspiration and PM Modi’s life as it will be portrayed to the world, through this film,” the petition reads.
