New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim protection to film-maker Leena Manimekalai from any coercive steps in multiple FIRs filed against her on the poster of her documentary film showing goddess ‘Kali’ smoking cigarette. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha issued notice to the states and directed that no coercive steps shall be taken against the filmmaker on the basis of the FIR already registered or on the basis of the FIR. A case has been registered in connection with the ‘Kali’ poster controversy.
The apex court took note that at this stage, registration of FIRs in multiple states may cause serious prejudice to the filmmaker and issued notice to the states on the plea seeking consolidation of all the FIRs at one place. “Issue notice to the respondents. List on 17th February, 2023. No coercive step shall be taken against the petitioner either on the basis of the FIR itself or on the basis of any FIR lodged or which may be lodged in relation to the same matter ” The top court said in its order.
Manimekalai has approached the apex court filed seeking protection and quashing of several FIRs registered against her in various states. One of the posters for the documentary depicts the Hindu goddess ‘Kali’ smoking a cigarette. The petition has also sought clubbing of all FIRs lodged against him in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand regarding the poster. The filmmaker has also demanded a stay on the criminal proceedings arising out of these FIRs.
Manimekalai has said that her endeavor as a creative filmmaker was not to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments but to portray an image of a fundamentally inclusive goddess. She said that after she tweeted a poster of her film Kaali, there were also open calls for violence against her, her crew and her family. Manimekalai has challenged the proceedings against him in the district courts of Hazratganj in Lucknow, Ratlam, Bhopal and Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Haridwar in Uttarakhand and Delhi.