The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday quashed an FIR filed against Sanjay Leela Bhansali for making the movie Padmaavat that the petitioner claims hurt people’s sentiments.
Justice Sandeep Mehta of the Jodhpur bench quashed the FIR on Tuesday after watching the movie, which on his orders was specially screened for him on Monday evening at a multiplex.
In a significant observation, the judge said that found nothing offensive was found in the movie.
The court said Padmavati is a historical figure and not a religious character and Jauhar has been shown to give due honour to her.
Following the court’s order, for the first time, Padmaavat was screened in Rajasthan for the judge and three judicial staff- Court Reader, Personal Assistant, and Court Officer.
Adequate security arrangements were made for the film’s screening. 200 policemen guarded the multiplex and the mall during the screening between 8 pm to 10.30 pm.
The screening was held in the wake of a petition filed by director Sanjay Leela Bhansali to quash an FIR filed against him and actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh at Deedwana police station in March 2017.
The film was originally decided to be screened at the Rajasthan State Judicial Academy. However, due to the inadequate resolution at that theatre, the film was screened at INOX.
The FIR was lodged against Bhansali and the actors in Nagaur in December by Virendra Singh and Nagpal Singh, who claimed that the film distorted “historical facts” and “hurt the image of Rani Padmini”.
Bhansali’s lawyer applied to quash the FIR at the Jodhpur High Court.
The film was released across the country on January 25 except in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Goa, where the Multiplex Association had refused to release it, owing to threats by fringe groups.
