Padmaavat row: Supreme Court to hear contempt plea against 4 states, Karni Sena

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear on Monday contempt pleas filed against Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh for failing to control law and order ahead of the release of the controversial film ‘Padmaavat’ and against the Karni Sena, which went on a rampage in some parts of the country.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra brushed aside a demand by a lawyer to immediately hear the petition for contempt action against the states for failing to fulfil their constitutional obligations and the Sena for taking the law into its own hands. “We will hear it in due course,” the CJI initially said.

The CJI, who sat alongside Justices AM Khanwilkar and D Chandrachud, later said the pleas would be heard on Monday. The plea was mentioned by lawyer Vineet Dhanda. Another plea was filed by Tehseen Poonawalla against some Karni Sena members.


The Karni Sena had belatedly approached the court seeking a ban on the movie. The film, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, opened nationwide on Thursday after it was originally scheduled to release on December 1. The top court had refused to ban the film and had instead asked state s to ensure that law andorder was maintained.