CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday refused to stay the screening of ‘MSG — Messenger of God’, the controversial film starring Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, paving the way for its scheduled release on February 13.
The court, however, issued notices to the Censor Board, states of Haryana and Punjab and the Chandigarh administration on the contentions the petition raised against the screening of the film. They were told to file replies on March 3.
The matter reached the high court through a petition filed by a Mohali-based Sikh body, Kalgidhar Sewak Jatha, arguing screening of the movie would pose a serious threat to law and order in Punjab and Haryana.
The petition claimed Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has tried to project himself as a “messenger of God” while he was an accused in several heinous crimes, including rape, murder and castration of his followers. The CBI was investigating the cases.
The petitioner has also objected to certain dialogues like “hum sabke baap hai” and “jo humse takrayega chur-chur ho jayega”.
The Punjab government has already banned the movie, considering the possibility of violence.
Welcoming the court’s decision, Dera spokesperson Aditya Insan said the film will be released on February 13. “We are planning a premiere show in Mumbai very soon,” he added.
TOI | Feb 5, 2015
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