Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic movie Padmavati has been at the centre of controversy starting from January this year when the fringe outfit Karni Sena first came into limelight for assaulting the celebrated director and vandalizing the sets of the movie.
In the last ten months, the little known outfit has continued to targeted Bhansali and actress Deepika Padukone in particular with numerous public threats of maiming and beheading, among others.
The attacks increased as the movie’s release date came closer with political leaders also joining in. Bowing to the protests, the release of the move has been deferred for now.
Let’s examine the numerous vicious threats and see what legal action the Indian law has to offer :
Threat to Mutilate the Lead Actress
Karni Sena’s president , Mahipal Singh Makrana threatened to cut off the nose of Deepika Padukone, the actress who essays the Rajput Queen in the movie, in a reference to the episode in Ramayana where Laxman chops off the nose of Surpanakha.
Legal Stance:
- The threat to chop off the nose can be interpreted as an intention to cause grievous hurt under IPC Section 506, which is a criminal offence.
- The law clearly states that if proven guilty, the accused can be jailed for up to seven years or be fined or both.
- Legal action for such an offence can also be taken under civil law. In case the accused has done anything that causes a victim to have a reasonable fear of violence, then a lawsuit can be filed against the accused.
Reward For Beheading Deepika Padukone and Sanjay Leela Bhansali
A BJP official from Haryana has offered Rs. 10 crore as bounty for the heads of Padukone and Bhansali. He doubled a previous bounty on their heads which had been placed at Rs. 5 crore by a Meerut-based businessman.
BJP’s chief media coordinator Surajpal Amu, further threatened to “break the legs” of the actor playing the role of the Delhi Sultant Alauddin Khilji, Ranveer Singh.
Legal Stance
These statements attract a wide range of law provisions :
- Under Section 506 of IPC such threats are a criminal offence since the provisions of the section state that any form of criminal intimidation can be punished with two years of jail term, or a fine, or both.
- A threat to behead someone can be construed as a murder threat and can be handled as such.
- Also since the provocative statement was made before a crowd it can also be seen as a threat to incite riots. In this case Section 155 of IPC can be used to hold the person for whose benefit the riot is carried out as being liable for losses.
- These statements can also attract a case of criminal intimidation under Section 503 of IPC. Here any threat to injure another to cause harm is seen as criminal intimidation. This carries a jail term of seven years, a fine, or both.
- The earlier mentioned section for grievous hurt can be used here given the nature of the threat.
Derogatory Remarks Against Deepika Padukone
In response to the rising attacks and threats, Deepika Padukone had taken to Twitter to protest stating that “India had regressed as a nation.”
Karni Sena convenor Lokendra Singh Kalvi reportedly called Padukone a “naachnewali” (courtesan), for her comment.
Legal Stance
- Calling someone a “naachnewali “ can be seen as sexual harassment as described under Section 354 of IPC. This section states that “sexually coloured” comments can be labelled as sexual harassment.
- If convicted, this section can result in prison term of over a year, or a fine, or both.
Film Sets Vandalised, Sanjay Leela Bhansali Physically Assaulted
Earlier this year, while shooting the film in Rajasthan, Bhansali was physically assaulted and his clothes were torn. A Rajput leader later stated that they had slapped Bhansali and would soon beat him up with shoes. In the attack the film sets and equipment were also destroyed
Another attack took place while shooting in the palace of Rani Padmini in Chittorgarh where the mirrors in which allegedly Alauddin Khilji saw Padmini for the first time were destroyed.
Legal Stance
- The physical assault of the director can be seen as an “offence of battery”. Slapping per se is not considered as assault, but as “battery” which is punishable by law as mentioned earlier.
- The act of tearing his clothes is a pending threat of further physical violence which attracts the provisions of the section dealing with assault Section 352 of IPC. It states that such an act is to be punished with imprisonment of up to three months, fine, or both.
- The destruction of property attracts the provisions of Section 425 of IPC which involves imprisonment for three months, fine, or both.
While no legal action has been taken so far, the court has the right to take suo moto cognisance of such offenses.