Bombay High Court appoints judges committee to review film ‘I Killed Bapu’ for objectionable content

The Bombay High Court on October 11 appointed a three-member committee consisting of two retired High Court judges and an actor to review the Hindi film 'I Killed Bapu’ to examine allegations that it has objectionable content and insults the father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi [Mohammed Atiq Ibrahim Ansari v. Central Board of Film Certification & Ors.].The film has already been released on a digital platform. A division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and Firdosh Pooniwalla appointed a panel consisting of retired judges Justice AA Sayed and Justice Abhay Thipsay and actor Amol Palekar to consider whether the film has any objectionable material threatening societal disharmony. .“We find that retired Justice AA Sayed, Former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and retired Justice Abhay Thipsay suggested by both sides can be accepted to be on the panel of eminent viewers to be appointed in the present matter. We intend to appoint some third person having experience in the Cinema Industry and accordingly, we suggest the name of the actor, Amol Palekar,” the order stated..The Court said that the panel has to submit its report within two weeks after viewing the film, but preferably by November 1.“The panel is to take a preview of the film ‘I Killed Bapu’ and consider whether the film has any such objectionable material or has any potential of seriously threatening societal disharmony and submit its report accordingly to this court," the Court ordered..The petitioner, a Mumbai resident named Mohammed Atiq Ibrahim Ansari, moved the Court claiming that the film was produced only to create disharmony between two religions and to insult Mahatma Gandhi by holding him responsible for the partition of India.Ansari said he came across a news item on a news channel where a well-known personality from South India claimed to know of officers within the Central Board of Film Certification who took bribes and cleared films. He apprehended that the present film could have been cleared in a similar manner..The High Court will consider the matter, after receiving the panel's report, on November 1..Advocates Amin Solkar, Daksha Parmar and Umang Shah appeared for Ansari. Advocates AM Saraogi appeared for the film producer, Sarla Saraogi.Advocate Kumar Parkh briefed by Dua Associates appeared for Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE). .[Read order]