Supreme Court to hear on plea challenging Election Commission’s ban on ‘PM Narendra Modi’ biopic 

Vivek Oberoi plays Narendra Modi’s role in the film.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Friday, agreed to hear the plea challenging the Election Commission’s ban on the release of biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The film – “PM Narendra Modi” – was initially scheduled to be released on April 11, but a day before its release, the EC put a ban on it until the Lok Sabha election is over. Following this, the film’s producer, Sandip Singh, moved the apex court against the EC ruling.

The Supreme Court has listed the case to be heard on Monday.

The lawyer for the makers of the film, Hitesh Jain, on Thursday, said the makers will move the apex court under Article 32 of the Constitution stating that the EC’s order is a violation of their freedom of speech and expression.

The poll panel banned the screening of the biopic during election period, on Wednesday, saying any such film that sub serves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media.

Earlier the SC dismissed the plea filed by a Congress activist seeking stay on the release of the biopic, saying the Election Commission should decide if the film violates the election model code of conduct. The bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, also called the plea “premature” as the movie wasn’t certified by the censor board at that time.

However, on Tuesday evening, the censor board certified the biopic and the Congress activist succeeded in securing a ban on its release from the Election Commission.

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