The Supreme Court will hear on April 8 the request of a Congress leader seeking delay in the release of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Criticised by the opposition parties as a propaganda-movie for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with clearly demarcated partisan portrayals, the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw complaints filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI), including the Congress.
The Congress had requested the Election Commission to defer the release date beyond April 5, alleging that its release just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls violated the model code of conduct.
There are some reports now that the release date – April 5 – had been deferred.
In the Bombay High Court, a petition was filed by Satish Gaikwad to block the release of the movie alleging that it violates the model code of conduct. Last Monday however, the high court disposed off the petition.
On Wednesday, Satish Gaikwad’s lawyer Tosif Shaikh spoke to the Mumbai Mirror stating that a Special Leave Petition would be filed in the Supreme Court. Accusing the Election Commission of India ‘acting in collusion’ with the BJP, Tosif Shaikh added that the Supreme Court would be approached for a “stay on releasing the movie only during the election period”.
Starring Vivek Oberoi in the role of Narendra Modi, the biopic traces the life of the Prime Minister from his birth to 2014.
