Top Court Won't Stop PM Modi Biopic Release: "Time Wasted On Non-Issues"

The Supreme Court today refused to consider a Congress leader's petition seeking to stop the release of "PM Narendra Modi", a biopic on the Prime Minister, saying "too much of court time is wasted on these non-issues". The top court also said that it's for the Election Commission to decide if the film - scheduled for release on Thursday, coinciding with the start of national elections - tilts the balance in favour of the ruling BJP, as alleged by the opposition Congress.

The top court said that the petition was "premature" as the film was yet to be certified by the Censor Board. "We, therefore, do not consider it fit to entertain the petition", a bench comprising Chief justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Congress spokesperson Aman Pawar, had argued that the film disturbs the level-playing field; four office-bearers of the BJP are the producers of the film, he had said. The party has alleged that the film's release close to the national election violates the model code of conduct.

Vivek Oberoi, who plays PM Modi in the film, tweeted after the court order:

With all your blessings, support and love,today we have won in the Honorable Supreme Court! A humble thank you to all of you and to the Indian juidiciary for upholding our faith in democracy! Thursday 11th April. Jai Hind #PMNarendraModiWins https://t.co/fJLlgyslHQ

— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) April 9, 2019

Last week, the actor headlined the controversy surrounding the film after he targeted the Congress, wondering "if they are scared of the film or of Chowkidar's danda".

The Congress promptly responded, saying it's a "bogus film of a flop hero, a flop producer and is made on a flop person who has proved to be a zero."