MLA fined Rs 10,000 for not replying to filmmaker’s petitions

Express News Service, Delhi High Court, New Delhi, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra,Tue, Mar 29, 2011

The Delhi High Court on Monday imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on a city MLA for not replying to a petition filed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, director of Hindi film Delhi-6, who had sought the quashing of an FIR lodged against him for allegedly depicting the Valmiki community in poor light in his film.

Justice Ajit Bharihoke directed Sultanpuri MLA Jai Kishan to deposit the fine with the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee after he sought four more weeks to file his reply.

Mehra, also the film’s co-producer, and UTV Motion Pictures (Mauritius) Ltd, had filed the petition seeking quashing of the FIR lodged by the MLA at the Mandir Marg police station for allegedly depicting a girl from the Valmiki community in a “derogatory” manner in the film, which starred Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor in lead roles. The FIR was lodged on March 7, 2009 under various provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the the Protection of Civil Rights Act.

“The film insulted the community by depicting the role of a sweeper girl who was shown belonging to the community and some scenes had shown the said character in derogatory light,” the FIR had stated.

Responding to the allegations, the counsel for Mehra said, “The registration of the FIR and consequent investigation carried out by the local police on the complaint was a gross abuse of the law because of the fact that approval was granted to the film by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/mla-fined-rs-10-000-for-not-replying-to-film/768619/