'The Bengal Files': Calcutta HC rejects plea of Gopal Patha's grandson; CBFC clearance stands

KOLKATA: Calcutta High Court on Monday set aside a petition challenging the role of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) that had allowed screening of The Bengal Files film observing that the petition was not maintainable.Petitioner Santanu Mukherjee, a lawyer and grandson of freedom fighter Gopal Mukherjee, had moved the Calcutta High Court on September 4, stating that the film had tarnished the image of his grandfather and his family.Mukherjee moved the court yet again on Monday and pleaded that he had sought some information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act that was not replied. Mukherjee pleaded that in his complaint e he wanted to know about the role of the CBFC in considering the depiction of a historical figure in the film, and how the CBFC members evaluated the depiction.

Counsel for the CBFC pointed out to the court that provision for appeal by the petitioner against the non-response had already expired.Justice Amrita Sinha held that if the petitioner was aggrieved with the non-response, he should have gone for an appeal against the CBFC within the stipulated time provided under the RTI Act. Justice Sinha observed that the petitioner did not explore the remedy available under the RTI Act.

Petitioner Mukherjee had contended on September 4 that Gopal Mukherjee, popularly known as Gopal Pantha had been shown in “poor light” in the film produced by Vivek Agnihotri. The petitioner submitted that the freedom fighter from central Kolkata had been portrayed as a person who had “slaughtered” people of minority community during the Great Calcutta Killings on August 16, 1946.The petitioner had submitted that the portrayal of his grandfather in the film was not based on history.