HC declines to stay release of film Chambal

Amid the controversy surrounding the Kannada film ‘Chambal’, the Karnataka High Court declined to stay the release of the film, set for Friday.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Gowramma (63) and Kariyappa (72), parents of late IAS officer D K Ravi. The petitioners had moved the court seeking a stay on the release of the film, which allegedly portrays their son in poor light.

The court directed the film producers to submit the CD of the film in a sealed cover to the court on Monday, after the government counsel submitted that the film did not have any connection to the life of the late IAS officer and was an art of fiction.

The petitioners have contended that Chambal has scenes based on Ravi’s life and the same would spoil his image and thereby hurt their sentiments.

They have stated that the film depicts a false image of late Ravi who was regarded as an upright, brave and honest officer and had cracked down on land and sand mafia and tax evaders, during his stints in Kalaburagi, Kolar and Bengaluru.

Ravi has been depicted as someone who falls prey to the land mafia and is shown to be taking bribe from them, which would seriously damage his image as an upright officer.