Kaatil Kaise Masoom Ho Sakta Hai? Delhi High Court To 'Masoom Kaatil' Film Director In Plea Seeking Censor Board Clearance

The director of a movie Masoom Kaatil has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)'s decision to not allow its public release.

Justice Pratibha M Singh asked the counsel appearing for CBFC to file a short affidavit giving the reasons for refusal of the certificate and also the names of the individuals who were on the panel which refused the clearance.

The court also allowed Shyam Bharteey, the film director, to argue the case himself in the matter.

During the course of hearing, Justice Singh on a lighter note asked Bharteey: "Kaatil kaise masoom ho sakta hai (how can a murderer be innocent)?"

To this, the director responded: "Masoom hai ma'am, story hi kuch aisi hain (he is innocent only, ma'am. The story is such!)"

The director told the court that after applying for the censor certificate on August 9, the first screening of the movie took place on August 18. However, since the censor board was not willing to grant the certificate, the matter was referred to the revising committee.

Bharteey submitted that the revising committee also refused to grant certification to the movie. He alleged that one of the members of the committee was "playing a video game" rather than watching the movie while it was being screened.

"Revising committee me jis tarah se board members ne meri movie dekhi, wo dekh ke mai hairaan reh gaya. Jo main board member the wo puri film dekhne ke dauraan video game dekh rahe the. Maine apni aankho se dekha ma'am," he told the court.

He added: "Jo board member agar video game dekhega, toh ek writer ki, director ki, producer ki bhaawnaao ko kya samjhega? Mere hisaab se meri film bohot sahi hain."

On the other hand, the counsel appearing for CBFC submitted that the certificate has been refused since the movie displayed "extreme violence" which may also lead to communal violence.

"Extreme violence which may create communal violence also. This is showing extreme violence; that is why it has been refused," the counsel said.

Justice Singh said that the writ petition be renumbered as an appeal under the Cinematograph Act and be listed before the appropriate roster bench.

Adjourning the matter to January 12, the court said: "In the meantime, learned counsel for respondent would place on record a short affidavit giving the reasons for the refusal and the names of the individuals who constituted the panel which refused the certification."

Title: SHYAM BHARTEEY v. CENTRAL BOARD OF FILM CERTIFICATION REGIONAL OFFICER DELHI & ANR