Will Government register an offence against the producer of movie ‘Padmaavat’ ? – HJS

Government should recover the revenue loss from M/S Sanjay Leela Bhansali Productions !

M/S Sanjay Leela Bhansali Productions shot the movie ‘Padmaavat’ (Named earlier as ‘The Legend of Rani Padmavati’) at Masai Pathar in Panhala, District Kolhapur. The shooting was carried out for 20 days. As per the Government rules for shooting, the production company was to pay Rs. 1,91,458 towards shooting charges. However, the production company paid only a meagre amount and caused loss to the Government revenue to the tune of Rs. 1,62,742. Similarly, the Police administration, Forest Department and the Collector, Kolhapur had laid the condition that the production company should obtain prior permission from the concerned individuals and institutes before commencing the shooting. However, the production company has not followed the directives and thus, deceived the Government once again, which is a criminal offence. Therefore, M/S Sanjay Leela Bhansali Productions should be fined and criminal offences should be registered against the concerned defaulters. These demands were raised with the Government by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad. The complaint, along with the proofs, has also been lodged by Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad with the Collector, Kolhapur, Forest Ranger and the Superintendent of Police, Kolhapur. The documents acquired under RTI Act in this regard have also been enclosed with above complaint. This information was shared with the media on 23rd Jan. 2018 through a press conference arranged in Mumbai. National President of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad Adv. Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, Spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Shri. Narendra Surve and Sanatan Sanstha’s Dr. (Mrs.) Deeksha Pendbhaje addressed the conference.

The memorandum submitted to the Government further states that Mr. Dattaprasad Ashtekar of ‘Onkar Stage Services’ had made the correspondence on behalf of M/S Sanjay Leela Bhansali Productions for seeking all the permissions connected with shooting. While granting the permission for shooting, the Entertainment Department and the office of the Superintendent of Police, Kolhapur had stipulated the condition of obtaining prior permission from the concerned individuals and institutes before commencing the shooting. However, this condition was not met. The shooting was carried out for 20 days from 6th March to 30th March 2017 with gap of few days in-between. However, an amount of only Rs. 28,716 was deposited toward charges for the period of 3 days from 22nd March to 24th March with the Forest Department Kolhapur. However, the charges from 6th March to 14thMarch 2017 and 21st March to 30th March 2017 were not paid to the offices of Collector, Kolhapur and the Superintend of Police, Kolhapur. Thus, the Government has been defrauded by lakhs of Rupees. Similarly, sets of the movie caught fire on 15th March 2017. The site was used on that day without obtaining the Police permission, which is deceit of the Government.

As it is, the controversy haunts this movie. Hundreds of agitations were held against the movie throughout the country. There is a strong possibility that ‘law and order’ would be disturbed due to the release of the movie. Therefore, we demand that the Government should take urgent steps to recover the outstanding charges along with the fine and initiate criminal action against the concerned for misleading the Government. Failure to do so will send a wrong message to the society that the Government is purposefully favouring the movie.