Plea in SC against The Accidental Prime Minister

A plea was filed on Wednesday in the Supreme Court for a direction to stop display and exhibition of trailer of Anupam Kher-starrer 'The Accidental Prime Minister' on YouTube and other platforms, contending that it caused damage to the office of the Prime Minister of India.

Pooja Mahajan, who filed the petition, challenged the Delhi High Court's order of January 7 declining issuance of restraint order. She contended though it was said in disclaimer of the film that it was based on a book written by Sanjay Baru, it has various “unauthorised inputs” “to malign” office of the ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

She claimed that the certificate granted for the release of the film under Section 5 B of the Cinematograph Act was in contravention of Section 416 (offence of impersonation) of the Indian Penal Code.

“By performing the character of ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the performing artists have committed offences punishable under Section 416 of the IPC and therefore the Central Board for Film Certification could not have given the certificate for screening and exhibition of the film,” her petition stated.

“In fact, the trailer is false, fake and untrue,” she claimed.

The petitioner further contended the film producers have not taken any consent or permission from Manmohan Singh, Sonia or Rahul to perform their characters.

“It seems that filmmakers, producers have made an attempt to make commercial gains and the act of “impersonation” have been committed deliberately to defame the office of prime minister just to hype the excitement amongst the prospective viewers,” her petition stated.

The petitioner further contended the Centre, CBFC could not have permitted, allowed or could not have allowed the trailer of the said film as it is against the decency, morality and involving the office of Ex-Prime Minister of India.

“It is a fact that office of Prime Minister of India is getting defamed, insulted in social-media. It was wrong propaganda being done as a political stunt at the behest of some political party,” the petitioner claimed.