Court summons Hindu Mahasabha secy on suit against film 'Desh Bhakt Nathuram Godse'

Mumbai, Jan 2 A Pune court today issued summons to Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha general secretary Munna Kumar Sharma, asking him to appear on January 20 in response to a suit seeking a ban on his film 'Desh Bhakt Nathuram Godse' which is slated for release this month-end.

The summons were issued by Judicial Magistrate First Class Anirudh Pathak, according to advocate Wajid Khan, counsel for plaintiff Hemant Patil. Since the film has the potential to "incite people on communal lines," the petition prayed for a ban on its release.

According to the suit, the film would be released on the same day when Godse had gunned down Mahatma Gandhi. In the suit, activist Hemant Patil prayed that the film's release should be stopped until the producer satisfied the court that it would not cause any communal flare-up.

BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj recently had said, "Godse was an aggrieved person. He may have done something by mistake but was not an anti-national. He was a patriot." However, after his remark triggered a row, the Unnao MP retracted saying, "I do not consider him a rashtra bhakta (patriot). I might have said something by mistake."

PTI