Court asks poll panel for report on PM film

The Supreme Court yesterday asked the Election Commission to watch a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and submit its report in a sealed cover by the end of this week.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, has scheduled the hearing of the writ petition filed by film producer Sandeep Ssingh on April 22.

When the court asked the lawyer for the Commission whether the poll body had seen the PM Narendra Modi, senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for the producer said it had barred the film’s release without even watching it.

The bench then asked the EC lawyer to watch the movie and submit its report to the court.

The filmmakers had moved the

court challenging the EC’s order delaying its release date.

The petitioners contended that the poll body order violated the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the constitution.

Last week, the EC issued an order barring the screening of political films during polls.

The film starring Vivek Oberoi was slated to release on April 11, the first day of polling for the Lok Sabha elections.

“Any biopic material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub-serving the purposes of any political entity or any individual entity connected to it, which is intended to, or which has the potential to disturb the level playing field during the elections, should not be displayed in electronic media, including cinematograph during the operation of the MCC (Model Code of Conduct),” the EC said in its order.