Padmaavat Row: Contempt Petition Filed in Supreme Court Against Four States & Members of Karni Sena
The plea demands contempt charges to levelled against the four states as they have failed to maintain law and order, despite being ordered by the apex court.
New Delhi, Jan 25: Petitioners on Thursday moved the Supreme Court with a contempt plea, accusing the four states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh of defying the orders passed by the apex court. The petition also names three members of Karni Sena who have issued threats to cinema owners against the screening of Padmaavat.
The petition would be heard by the top court on Monday. According to news agency ANI, the plea demands contempt charges to levelled against the four states as they have failed to maintain law and order.
The Supreme Court, in the past week, nullified the ban imposed on Padmaavat's release by Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. The bench led by Chief Justice of India Deepak Misra said curbing the screening of a film granted certification by the CBFC would amount to "violation of freedom of speech and expression".
The order was challenged by the governments of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, which moved a review petition on Tuesday. However, the CJI-led bench turned down their plea.
Ahead of the movie's release of Thursday, Karni Sena members escalated their protest in all parts of the nation. Over 200 vehicles were torched in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, while in Haryana, several buses were vandalised and the prime Delhi-Jaipur and Wazirpur-Pataudi Highways were blocked on Wednesday.
Citing the threat posed by Karni Sena, cinema owners' associations of Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh decided not to screen the movies in theatres affiliated to them.
Protests rocked parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as well on Thursday, with a fringe Rajput group in Kanpur announcing a cash reward for Padmaavat's lead actress Deepika Padukone.
In Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, alleged members of Karni Sena blocked roads, burnt tyres and brandished swords.
Protesters also called a bandh in Junagadh, demanding a ban on the film.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 25, 2018 11:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).