A man has been arrested for allegedly vandalising the silver screen of a local multiplex during the screening of Vicky Kaushal-starrer ‘Chhaava’ — based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje Maharaj — in Bharuch, said police on Monday. The incident took place on Sunday night at RK Cinemas during the last show of the movie, scheduled at 11.45 pm, said officials from the Bharuch A Division Police Station. The accused, identified as Jayesh Vasava, who was allegedly in an inebriated state, climbed up the podium, damaged the silver screen with a fire extinguisher and then tore it apart until he was dragged out by the multiplex staff, said the police. Officials of Bharuch A Division Police Station said that Vasava, while watching the movie, charged towards the screen to “attack Aurangzeb after being overwhelmed” during the scenes depicting the chapter of decapitation of Sambhajiraje Maharaj, who had been captured by Aurangzeb in Sangameshwar in February 1689. RK Cinema general manager RV Sood said, “I received a call from the staff of Bluechip cinema that a patron had damaged the screen with a fire extinguisher and torn it apart. I instructed them to remove him from the auditorium to prevent further damage and harm to the others…” “We informed the police and the man was taken into custody,” Sood said. Talking about the loss suffered, Sood said, “We have suffered a damage of about Rs 1.5 lakh. We have been unable to use the screen for the scheduled shows on Monday but the repair work was undertaken on priority and we are hoping to run the screen by night”. “Those who were watching the show on Sunday night were given the option to continue watching the movie in the adjoining screen or take a refund. While 10-15 people were refunded as per their request, some decided to continue watching the movie on another screen,” the general manager said. According to the police complaint filed by the cinema management, Vasava also abused a female staff member and threatened the personnel on duty when they prevented him from further damaging the screen. Vasava has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions for damaging property and uttering obscene words, said police. A separate case has also been registered against the accused under the Prohibition Act, said the police.
