Plea against SRK for hurting Sikh sentiments

MUMBAI: A petition has been filed in the Bombay high court seeking action against actor Shah Rukh Khan and makers of the film “Zero” for allegedly hurting sentiments of the Sikh community. Petitioner Amritpal Singh Khalsa, an advocate, has sought action against the actor and the film’s producers Gauri Khan and Karuna Badwal, director Aanand L Rai, Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd and the Central Board for Film Certification’s (CBFC) chairperson and CEO.

The petition, filed on Tuesday, refers to the film’s trailer in which Shah Rukh is seen wearing a vest and shorts, with a garland of ₹500 notes around his neck and a “kirpan” in “gatra” (strap made from cloth to wear the kirpan, a Sikh article of faith).

Khalsa took exception to this scene and referred to the historical and cultural importance of “kirpan”.

In his petition, Khalsa said a “kirpan” is worn after taking “rehat maryada” (conversion to Sikhism). The petition has sought a direction to the police to initiate action against Shah Rukh and others under Indian Penal Code Section 295 (A), pertaining to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings or beliefs.

It has also sought a direction to the censor board to cancel the movie’s certification, a direction to the film’s makers to remove the particular scene and an interim stay on the trailer.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing on November 19, according to the high court’s website.