Calcutta High Court dismisses petition against 'The Bengal Files' over freedom fighter's portrayal

The Calcutta High Court on Monday dismissed a writ petition filed by the grandson of freedom fighter Gopal Chandra Mukherjee alias 'Gopal Patha'. The film has not been released in Bengal though national and international release was on September 5.

Shantanu Mukherjee, the grandson of Gopal Chandra Mukherjee alias 'Gopal Patha' has moved the HC challenging the portrayal of his grandfather in Director Vivek Agnihotri, in his recently released film ‘The Bengal Files’. Notably, the film could not be released in Bengal.

Justice Amrita Sinha in her order said that the petitioner intended to obtain certain information under RTI. "The time period within which the information should have been provided has expired. In the event the petitioner is aggrieved by inaction on part of authority to provide information within a statutory time period. The petitioner ought to avail remedy prescribed under RTI act."


"Writ petition on said cause of action will not be maintainable. In view of the above the WP fails and is hereby dismissed. It will be open for the petitioner to approach the competent forum for remedy in accordance with law if so advised," the court observed

Shantanu, in his plea, claimed that there was gross victimisation of the petitioner and there was “outright despicable depiction of his late grandfather the famous freedom fighter Gopal Chandra Mukherjee being propagated through an upcoming film titled The Bengal Files.”

Meanwhile, Agnihotri, in a video message, posted in X Handle claimed that police had reportedly threatened the multiplexes and the release of the movie was not allowed in Bengal, which involved Bengalis, who were victims of partition.”

Major trouble erupted during trailer launch of “The Bengal Files', directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, in a five-star hotel in Kolkata halted repeatedly during launch on August 16.

The launch was halted several times amid major chaos, with electrical wires inside the hotel reportedly disconnected to prevent the screening of the trailer. Major confusion had broken out when police entered the five star hotel ballroom to stop the trailer launch for the second time, leading to heated discussions.