Delhi High Court asks Centre to examine allegation that Dhurandhar 2 disclosed operational details of armed forces

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Union government and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to look into the allegations that Dhurandhar 2 movie, featuring Ranveer Singh, breached provisions of the Official Secrets Act.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition moved by Deepak Kumar, a Head Constable with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), alleged that the movie discloses operational details of the armed forces and could pose a threat to security and integrity of the country.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the CBFC to consider the issue and take a decision on Kumar's plea.

The Court remarked that the movie may be a work of fiction but the concerns raised by the petitioner cannot be said to be bereft of any material.

"Even if the movie is a work of fiction and imagination and is made for entertainment purposes, the impact of the movie can’t be denied," the Bench said.

The petitioner argued that the depiction of the location of certain actions and characters modelled after high-ranking officials and deceased servicemen was so explicit in the movie that the same may not serve the best interest of the country from a security and integrity point of view. 

He added that the movie also revealed details of drugs being worked on by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Considering the submissions, the Court observed that the movie may be a fictional work, but the petitioners' concern about the defence forces' operational details being revealed or tactics adopted by the Indian Army needs to be addressed.

"The censor board should have some guidelines. We will only direct you to consider his representation and take an informed decision," the Court said.

Therefore, it disposed of the plea with the following direction:

"Having regard to the nature of issue and concerns raised in the petition, we are of the opinion that the concerns raised by the petitioner needs to be considered and addressed appropriately. We dispose of the writ petition with direction to MIB and CBFC to consider the entire writ petition as a representation and take an appropriate decision on the issue raised therein."