MUMBAI, June 12: The controversy, surrounding the film shot by an amateur videographer of incidents relating to police firing after desecration of Dr B R Ambedkar's bust at Ghatkopar on July 11 last, has been put to rest with the Films Division informing the Gundewar commission that the footage was original and not an edited version.Ravi Shinde, who had shot a film lasting one minute and 56 seconds from his balcony overlooking the highway adjacent to Ramabai Nagar, supports the police version that firing was resorted to only after the mob went on rampage and attempted to set afire tankers loaded with liquid petroleum gas.B A Desai and Sangraj Rupawate, counsel for Congress and Dalits respectively, had objected to the film placed before the commission in the form of evidence arguing that it was an edited version.The commission, headed by Justice S D Gundewar, had earlier examined noted film maker Anand Patwardhan who opined that the film appeared to be an edited version. The cassette was sent to FD onMay 19 for an expert opinion. Deputy Chief Producer, Films Division, Y N Engineer, who viewed the film, concluded that the footage contained original shots and was not edited. His opinion was forwarded on June 4.The recording of evidence before Commission has come to an end. The state government, Mumbai police, Shiv Sena, Congress and other political parties have been asked to file their written submissions by June 15.
