Bombay High Court stresses disappointment regarding ‘Padmavati’ row
| Updated: Dec 8, 2017, 18:10 IST
Bombay High Court talks about ‘Padmavati’, says that they have observed that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has not been able to release his film and the lead actress of the film is facing death threats.
Justice Dharmadhikari said, "In this country, we have come to a situation where people cannot voice their opinions. Everytime a person says he or she wants to voice their opinion, somebody or a fringe group says they would not allow it. This does not augur well for the state. In which other country do you see threats given to artists and performers? It is distressing to know that a person makes a feature film and several people work tirelessly towards it, but is not able to release the film because of continued threats. What have we come to?”
On some states banning the release of ‘Padmavati’, "Today, somebody says I will give a reward to anyone who kills an actress. Such open threats! People are taking pride in saying we will give reward to those, who will kill an actress. And even chief ministers are saying they will not allow the release of the movie in their states.”
Dharmadhikari also said, "What concerns us is India's image and reputation as a democratic country. We are the largest democracy. We cannot take pride in the happenings of such incidents day in and day out. We are cutting a very sorry figure.”
“A democratic country like India is cutting a very sorry figure with open threats being given to artists and others and with attacks on people for voicing their opinions”, the Bombay High Court said on Thursday.
Justice Dharmadhikari said, "Maharashtra and Karnataka are known for social reformers and thinkers and with such incidents these states are cutting a sorry figure politically too. However, our country's agencies have not learnt anything from past incidents like the attack on Parliament and the Prime Minister.”
The court said Dabholkar was killed in 2013 and Pansare in 2015, but till date the investigating agencies (CBI and state CID) have not been able to arrest the main suspects.
"We cannot allow such serious matters to linger for years. We cannot allow constitutional rights to be taken away. Enough damage has been caused already. Has any senior official from the two agencies bothered to find out why the probe is not getting any headaway?" the court asked.
"At the core of these two crimes is the bold attempts being made by fringe groups to attack those who voice their rational views, thoughts, feelings and expressions," the court said.
Justice Dharmadhikari concluded by saying, "Hence, we feel that it is time to call upon the CBI and the CID to involve their superiors. If the senior officials do not wish to be summoned to court, then they should meet with the counsels appearing in court and take stock of the situation.”
Stay tuned for more updates.
Justice Dharmadhikari said, "In this country, we have come to a situation where people cannot voice their opinions. Everytime a person says he or she wants to voice their opinion, somebody or a fringe group says they would not allow it. This does not augur well for the state. In which other country do you see threats given to artists and performers? It is distressing to know that a person makes a feature film and several people work tirelessly towards it, but is not able to release the film because of continued threats. What have we come to?”
On some states banning the release of ‘Padmavati’, "Today, somebody says I will give a reward to anyone who kills an actress. Such open threats! People are taking pride in saying we will give reward to those, who will kill an actress. And even chief ministers are saying they will not allow the release of the movie in their states.”
Dharmadhikari also said, "What concerns us is India's image and reputation as a democratic country. We are the largest democracy. We cannot take pride in the happenings of such incidents day in and day out. We are cutting a very sorry figure.”
“A democratic country like India is cutting a very sorry figure with open threats being given to artists and others and with attacks on people for voicing their opinions”, the Bombay High Court said on Thursday.
Justice Dharmadhikari said, "Maharashtra and Karnataka are known for social reformers and thinkers and with such incidents these states are cutting a sorry figure politically too. However, our country's agencies have not learnt anything from past incidents like the attack on Parliament and the Prime Minister.”
The court said Dabholkar was killed in 2013 and Pansare in 2015, but till date the investigating agencies (CBI and state CID) have not been able to arrest the main suspects.
"We cannot allow such serious matters to linger for years. We cannot allow constitutional rights to be taken away. Enough damage has been caused already. Has any senior official from the two agencies bothered to find out why the probe is not getting any headaway?" the court asked.
"At the core of these two crimes is the bold attempts being made by fringe groups to attack those who voice their rational views, thoughts, feelings and expressions," the court said.
Justice Dharmadhikari concluded by saying, "Hence, we feel that it is time to call upon the CBI and the CID to involve their superiors. If the senior officials do not wish to be summoned to court, then they should meet with the counsels appearing in court and take stock of the situation.”
Stay tuned for more updates.