We will not allow you to release film unless you tell us changed title: SC to filmmaker Neeraj Pandey on 'Ghooskhor Pandat'

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed filmmaker Neeraj Pandey to file an affidavit stating that his film 'Ghooskhor Pandat' does not denigrate any section of society, while hearing a plea seeking a stay on its release on Netflix.The court issued notice to the Centre, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and Pandey on the petition.During the hearing, the bench made sharp observations on the film’s title. “Title of movie is against morality, public order,” the court told the filmmaker.It further said, “We will not allow you to release film unless you tell us changed title.”Questioning the intent behind the title, the bench remarked, “Why should you denigrate a section of society by using such title.”The hearing comes amid a separate criminal case registered in Lucknow against the director and members of his team, earlier this month.According to police officials, complaints alleged that the film’s title and content target a particular caste, offending religious and caste-based sentiments and promoting animosity.In an official statement, the Lucknow police commissionerate said strict action is being ensured against any content that hurts religious or caste sentiments or disrupts communal harmony.

The statement noted that the title of the film appears to have been deliberately chosen to insult a particular caste, which has the potential to disturb public peace and social concord.Police said preliminary scrutiny suggests the director and his team may have published the content with the intention of spreading discord, disturbing law and order, and undermining social harmony. “Any attempt to incite hostility or hurt the sentiments of any community will not be tolerated. Strict legal action will be taken against those found guilty,” said DCP Central Zone, Vikrant Vir.The FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to promoting enmity between different groups and acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.