Bombay High Court Directs No Coercive Action Against Director Mahesh Manjrekar, Producers In Marathi Movie Row

A division bench led by Justice PB Varale heard Manjrekar, Narendra Hirawat and Shreyans Hirawat's plea to quash the POCSO Court's order directing registration of the FIR based on an NGO's complaint.

Senior Advocate Shirish Gupte for Manjrekar argued that the 'objectionable' scene was not a part of the film and the trailer was already pulled down. Moreover, the film is released after the censor board's certification. He submitted that the POCSO court's order was without application of mind. He claimed that the film now doesn't contain any scene that could even remotely attract the POCSO Act.

Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda for the producers submitted that his clients were issued notices under section 160 of the CrPC therefore there was the apprehension of arrest. Ponda said that the accused were not served a notice under section 41A of the CrPC as the offences against them were less than 7 years.

The bench then observed that a "case was made out for interim relief." The court issued notice to the state and the complainant and posted the matter after three weeks. "Respondent 1 (State) is directed not to take any coercive steps till the next date in both matters,'' the bench held.