Arvind Kejriwal Film Won't Be Blocked. Can't Gag Creativity, Says Court

New Delhi: "An Insignificant Man", the much-talked about film on Arvind Kejriwal, will not be blocked from release tomorrow, the Supreme Court said today, asserting that it will not interfere in the freedom of speech and expression.

The top court rejected a petition that sought to stop the nationwide release of the film that documents the rise of Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the role of founder-members like Yogendra Yadav.

"Freedom of speech and expression is sacrosanct and the said right should not be ordinarily interfered with," the court said.

The judges, led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, also noted that: "The courts have to be extremely slow to pass any kind of orders in such situations and should allow a creative man to enjoy in writing a drama, philosophy and book of any kind or project it in on celluloid or theatre."

The petitioner who wanted the film to be stopped is Nachiketa Walhekar, the man who had allegedly thrown ink on the Delhi Chief Minister in 2013. He argued in court that he had been shown as a convicted person though the trial is still not over. He also objected to the ink-throwing incident being shown in promos.

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The 96-minute documentary by Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla is crowd-funded and chronicles the evolution of Arvind Kejriwal, the taxman-turned-politician. The filmmakers say they were given rare access to the party, its leaders and its meetings from 2012, when AAP was formed. One of the scenes has Mr Kejriwal discussing poll candidates and losing his temper at incessant demands for tickets to contest elections.