Suit filed against Godse's film, Pune court to hear tomorrow

MUMBAI: A civil suit has been filed in a Pune court against Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha seeking a ban on its forthcoming film 'Desh Bhakt Nathuram Godse', slated for release on January 30.

The suit filed by activist Hemant Patil alleges that Mahasabha general secretary Munna Kumar Sharma had said in a section of media that "the film would show that Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, was a patriot while Gandhi was anti-Hindu".

Civil Judge S S Nair has placed the suit for hearing tomorrow, said advocate Wajid Khan, the petitioner's lawyer.

According to the suit, the film was being released on the same day when Godse had gunned down Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. "As the film has the potential to incite people on communal lines", the petition has prayed for a ban on its release.

The suit's main prayer is to stop the release of the film until the producer satisfies the court that it would not in any way flare up communal issues or cause disharmony among people.