The Bombay and Delhi high courts on 1st April declined to interfere with the release of PM Narendra Modi on 5th April. A PIL had been filed in the Bombay high court by RPI(I) leader Satish Gaikwad, alleging that the release of the biopic of the prime minister on 5th April was in violation of the model code of conduct which was in place since 10th March. It also alleged that the film’s release just before the general elections was in violation of the rules under the Representation of The People Act. A division bench of the high court, comprising Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice Nitin Jamdar left it to the Election Commission of India to take a call on the film’s release.
In Delhi, a bench of the high court refused to entertain a PIL filed by lawyer Sujeet Kumar Singh, asking the petitioner to go to the CBFC (which had certified the film) or the Election Commission of India. The Allahabad high court also rejected a PIL filed against the film’s release.
Despite the orders of the high courts, the film did not open this week (on 5th April) because it did not get the censor certificate in time. The CBFC on 2nd April asked for changes to be carried out in the film, which changes could not be carried out urgently for the film to see an April 5 release.
The Vivek Oberoi starrer will now hit the screens next week, on 11th April (Thursday).