Film is not based on lobbyist Niira Radia: producer to HC

New Delhi, Apr 5: The producer of "Monica-the Politics of Murder" today told the Delhi High Court that the film did not depict the personal life of corporate lobbyist Niria Radia as it had nothing to do with her.

Lucknow-based Congress leader Kush Bhargava, who has produced the movie, filed the reply to the petition of Radia saying "the film is not based on the life of the petitioner."

The producer, who also provided a copy of the script to Radia, opposed the plea that the ongoing screening of the film be stayed as it was violative of Radia's right to privacy.

Anip Sachthey, counsel for Radia, said the script mentioned a conversation of the protagonist, played by Divya Dutta, with the telecom minister and it cannot be said that the film was not based on Radia.

Justice V K Jain, however, asked the producer to provide a DVD of the film to Sachthey.

The court then asked the counsel for Radia to file his rejoinder and posted the matter for further hearing on Apr 28, the next date of hearing.

Radia, Director of Vaishnavi Corporate Communications Private Ltd who has been in news after the leakage of her tapped conversations with corporate heads, journalists and political leaders, has filed the petition seeking "permanent injunction" against the release of the film on the ground that it depicted her private life in a "scandalous" manner.

The court, however, did not grant the stay on the release of the film, which hit theatres on Mar 25.

"In any case, neither the script nor the VCD of the film is before the court and without looking on them, how can an opinion be formed," the court had said.

The lawyer for Radia had cited a news report which said "the Congress leader Bhargava will release a film on the infamous telecom scam on Mar 25.

Divya Dutta, the protagonist, will have shades of both Shivani Bhatnagar (the Indian Express journalist killed in 1999) and Radia." The other actors of the film included Ashutosh Rana, Yashpal Sharma and Kittu Gidwani.

"The plaintiff (Radia) has not assigned anyone the right to make a film based on her life or any film showing the the life of the petitioner, however, minuscule and the production of the film in such a brazen manner and public viewing of such film will tarnish or damage her image and reputation beyond repair which cannot be compensated," the petition said.

The movie is a scandalous attack on Radia depicting in a very derogatory and damaging light would denigrate her status as a entrepreneur and chairman of the reputed company, it said.

PTI