The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notifications to actor Kangana Ranaut, the Centre, censor board, and others on a PIL challenging the screening of her upcoming Hindi film 'Emergency.'
The PIL claims that the movie contains scenes that violate the fundamental rights of Sikhs. It specifically mentions that the film features scenes which violate the rights of the Sikh community and seeks an unconditional apology from the actor-politician and other respondents.
Kangana Ranaut plays the lead role as former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the film, scheduled for release on September 6.
A division bench of the court comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf has issued these notices to respondents during the preliminary hearing on the PIL filed by two Sikh organisations.
The court has specified that the responses to the notices should be submitted within 24 hours.
These notices have been ordered to be sent electronically, and they are expected to be returned by September 3 along with the replies on issues raised in the plea. The next hearing for this case has been scheduled for Tuesday (Sept 3).
Two Sikh organisations, the Jabalpur Sikh Sangat and the Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Indore, have filed a plea stating that Sikhs are directly affected by the film.
They have chosen to move the court to protect their dignity and honour, which is enshrined in the Constitution.
Additionally, the petition seeks direction from the Union government and the Madhya Pradesh government to restrict the movie's screening across the country, particularly in the central state.
Furthermore, the plea seeks direction to Ranaut and other respondents to tender an unconditional apology to the entire nation for making such an "irresponsible" film and pay exemplary damages to a Sikh charitable organization/institution.
The biographical political drama film has been directed and co-produced by the 38-year-old actor, the lawyer said.
Notices have been issued to the Centre, the MP government, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Manikarnika Films Pvt Ltd, Zee Studios Ltd, Zee Studios Chief Business Officer Umesh K Bansal, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook India Online Services Pvt Ltd.
On Friday, Ranaut said her film is still stuck with the censor board contrary to reports that it has been cleared for release.
In a video message posted on X, the actor claimed she and CBFC members had received threats, and that she is under pressure not to show in the film the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.
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