The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the plea of social activist Swami Agnivesh seeking deletion of scenes from the film “Padmaavat” on the ground that it glorified the practice of “jauhar”.
The apex court Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra rejected the plea of Swami Angivesh which also sought lodging of FIR against the producer and director of the film for glorifying the social evil of jauhar (self-immolation by widows on their husband’s funeral pyre).
“Once CBFC clears the movie, deletion of scenes cannot be directed,” the Bench, also comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, said.
The apex court had trashed several petitions against the movie's release on various grounds. Then the producers had moved the court after some States banned it.
The court, on January 18, had set aside the ban and restrained other States from banning the film, paving way for its all-India release on January 25.
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had moved the apex court seeking recall of the SC order, which was dismissed on January 23.
The Deepika Padukone-starrer “Padmaavat”, based on the saga of a historic 13th century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi, has Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles.
