The Supreme Court on Friday protected filmmaker Leena Manimekalai from arrest and other coercive actions in connection with multiple FIRs lodged by Hindutva groups against her over a poster of her documentary film featuring a woman dressed as Goddess Kaali and smoking.
The filmmaker is facing several FIRs across States including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh.
The top court also recorded that the poster was not meant to insult religious feelings, but was inclusive in nature.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud took the filmmaker’s statement on record and directed that she will not be subjected to any coercive process, including arrest in the wake of the first information reports (FIRs) registered against her over the poster.
“List the petition on February 20, 2023. In the meantime no coercive steps shall be taken against petitioner either on basis of the FIRs as noted above or pursuant to any other FIR which may have been or will be lodged in relation to the same offence,” stated the court order.
The order added: “Multiple FIRs in several states will be a matter of serious prejudice. We issue notice to have all FIRs consolidated at one place and then the petitioner will be at liberty to file a Section 482 CrPc plea.”
Advocate Kamini Jaiswal appeared for the filmmaker.
