FIR filed over public screening of BBC film

Delhi Police on Friday registered an FIR for screening BBC documentary on the December 16 gang-rape, India’s Daughter, at Ravidas Camp in south Delhi’s RK Puram, where three of the five convicts lived.

On Thursday evening, about 50 residents of the slum had watched the documentary on a makeshift screen.

The documentary, which contains interviews of the victim’s family, convict Mukesh and the defence lawyers, was screened by the BBC internationally last week. The central government, however, had banned the airing of the documentary in India after orders issued by a trial court on March 4.

On Thursday, the Delhi High Court had also refused to issue any direction on two PILs that sought lifting of the ban on the documentary.

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said the FIR has been registered under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) with RK Puram police station.

“We have launched an investigation in connection with the screening of the documentary. But nobody has been named in the FIR so far,” said Bhagat, adding any screening of the documentary is illegal.

Ketan Dixit, an activist with NGO Stop Acid Attacks, had set up a laptop and projector to screen the documentary. Earlier, Ketan was also detained by Uttar Pradesh Police for screening the documentary at Roop Dhanu village in Agra on Sunday. Police will seize the laptop and projector.

On March 4, Delhi Police had moved court and obtained a restraining order on the screening of the documentary. Police claimed Mukesh had made offensive and derogatory remarks against women creating an atmosphere of fear and tension with the possibility of public outcry and law and order situation.

A case under sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 505-1B (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code as well as section 66-A of the Information Technology Act was also registered.