Narendra Modi biopic release: EC files detailed report in Supreme Court

The Election Commission has filed its decision on the release of the Modi biopic, in a sealed envelope to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has adjourned the case to be heard on 26 April.

A special screening of the movie ‘PM Narendra Modi’ was held for a committee of seven Election Commission officials on 17 April. The said screening was arranged on the directions given by the Supreme Court in its order dated 15 April.

On 10 April, the election commission passed a stay order against the Modi biopic, just a day before its release, citing poll code violation. The election commission had stated in its order that any biopic material made for the purpose of any political entity which has potential to disturb the level playing field during the elections, should not be displayed in the electronic media.

Subsequently, the producers of the film approached Supreme Court on 17 April, through Senior Advocate Mukul Rohtagi stating that the decision of the Election Commission was arbitrary since they had not watched the movie but had formed an opinion merely by watching its trailer. The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India passed an order observing the argument made by Mukul Rohtagi and directed the Election Commission to watch the movie and thereafter consider the matter of public screening of the movie once again.

The CBFC had granted a ‘U’ certificate to the film on 10 April and had asked the director, Omang Kumar, to make a few minor changes. The film was scheduled to be released on 11 April but could not be released on the account of the ban.