Supreme Court agrees to hear petition seeking stay on release of Modi biopic

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition against the release of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biopic on April 8. The petition has been filed by Congress spokesperson and lawyer Aman Panwar.
 
Appearing for the petitioner, lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the bench headed by Justice Bobde that two high courts have refused to interfere with the release of the movie starring Vivek Oberoi. He submitted that the release of the movie may affect free and fair election as mandated in the Constitution.
 
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biopic violates the model code of conduct. Release of this film which has been produced by people connected to the ruling party would affect free and fair polls," Singhvi said.
 
The petition also alleged that Censor Board Chairman Prasoon Joshi has acted as a judge in its own cause. "It is also pertinent to mention herein that this petition is not an attempt to censor the movie, but is only an attempt to ensure that the Moral Code of Conduct and other electoral laws are not violated during the General Elections 2019, through this movie," the petition added.
 
'PM Narendra Modi' featuring Vivek Oberoi was scheduled to release April 5 but its makers have decided to push the release by a week, to April 12.
 
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court had on Wednesday rejected a plea seeking ban on the release of the movie.
 
The Bombay High Court had also on Monday disposed of a plea seeking deferment of the release of the biopic, saying the Election Commission will deal with the issue.
 
Directed by Omung Kumar and on Narendra Modi's life, the film has been co-produced by Suresh Oberoi and Sunil Ssingh.