‘Kaali’ poster row: SC protects filmmaker Leena Manimekalai from coercive action in connection with FIRs

The next hearing has been scheduled on February 17

Leena Manimekalai in her plea sought to club as well as quash the FIRs registered against her in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the poster. (Photo: LeenaManimekalai/Twitter)

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The Supreme Court on Friday granted protection to NRI filmmaker Leena Manimekalai from any coercive action in connection with FIRs registered against her in four states over her documentary titled ‘Kaali’, whose poster had courted controversy for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

Issuing a notice on her plea and scheduling the hearing next on February 17, a bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said that “in the meantime, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner either on the basis of the FIRs which have been instituted against her…or pursuant to any other FIR which may have been lodged or which may be lodged hereafter in respect of the same film”.

Also Read | Do not feel safe anywhere at this moment: Leena Manimekalai on ‘Kaali’ row

Her counsel told the bench that a lookout notice has also been issued against Manimekalai, who is a graduate student in Canada, and that coercive steps are likely to be taken against her.

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“She has produced a short film ‘kaali’ depicting the goddess. The submission is that there has been intent to hurt religious feeling and the object and purpose of the film was to depict Goddess Kali in an inclusive sense,” the Court stated in its order.

The bench asked the counsel if she had filed a petition under Section 482 of CrPC for consolidating the different FIRs. The counsel said that she was yet to file a plea for consolidating the FIRs.

The bench, also comprising Justice P S Narasimha, however, went ahead and issued a notice on that aspect too. “At this stage prima facie, it would appear that the institution of FIRs in multiple states would be a matter of serious prejudice to the petitioner. We are inclined to issue notice so that all the FIRs can be consolidated in one and the same place in accordance with law. The petitioner will then be at liberty to pursue her remedies under Section 482 CrPC,” the court stated.

“So, what we will do is we will bring them all together…. Suppose we bring them to Delhi, you can then file a 482 here and pursue your remedies,” the CJI told the counsel.

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