HC refuses to grant stay on screening of 'Sacred Evil'

Mumbai, June 1 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today refused to grant stay on the screening of the controversial English film 'sacred Evil', which allegedly hurts the sentiments of the Catholic Community.

The film is scheduled to release on June two across the country.

Vacation Judge V K Tahilramani while refusing to grant stay, directed the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to file its reply in regard to the steps taken on the complaint filed by the petitioners. The court however, adjourned the hearing to June five.

Mr Gerry Cohello and the Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) had filed a petition urging the court for directions to the CBFC to ban the film as it contained objectionable material which could be offensive to the religious feelings.

The court was also told the posters and promos of the film were objectionable as well.

Earlier the court had directed the producer of the film to organise a preview for two representatives of the CSF on May 31 after which the petitioners were to submit to the court their objections and issues with the film.

In their affidavit today, the petitioners submitted that 25 shots in the film were unacceptable and it also included a love song in the church. The Christian family in the film has been portrayed in an in-appropriate manner. Petitioner's counsels Jamshed Mistry and Pradip Hanvur appealed to the CBFC to delete all these and the court has directed the CBFC to file their reply in this regard.

UNI XR-ARM MJ PA ND1624