Corporate lobbyist Niira Radia Thursday approached the Delhi High Court which issued a notice to the producer of the film “Monica-the Politics of Murder” on her plea against the release of the movie on the ground that it depicts her private life in a “scandalous” manner.
Kush Bhargava, a Lucknow-based Congress leader, is the producer of the movie starring award winning actor Ashutosh Rana. It is scheduled to be released on Friday.
. “Issue notice to the respondent (Kush Bhargava) asking him to file a copy of the script of the film or a CD by the next date of hearing,” Justice V.K. Jain said.
Radia, Director of Vaishnavi Corporate Communications Private Ltd who has been in news after the leakage of her tapped conversations with corporate heads, journalists and political leaders, has filed the petition seeking “permanent injunction” against the release of the film.
“The plaintiff (Radia) has not assigned anyone the right to make a film based on her life or any film showing the the life of the petitioner, however, minuscule and the production of the film in such a brazen manner and public viewing of such film will tarnish or damage her image and reputation beyond repair which cannot be compensated,” Anip Sachthey, lawyer for the lobbyist, said.
The lawyer also cited a news report which said “the Congress leader Bhargava will release a film on the infamous telecom scam on March 25. Divya Dutta, the protagonist, will have shades of both Shivani Bhatnagar (the Indian Express journalist killed in 1999) and Niira Radia.”
The other actors of the film included Yashpal Sharma and Kittu Gidwani.
Before issuing the notice, Justice Jain, during the hearing, said “after all, it is the Censor Board which has given it a certificate after viewing it.”
After being argued that Radia was not a public figure and her right to privacy, guaranteed under the Constitution, be respected as it superseded the right to freedom of speech and expression. “If you speak to public figures and discuss matters, which relate to the affairs of the state, then you cannot claim that such things, if communicated, violate your right to privacy,” Justice Jain said.
Earlier, the courts have watched a movie based on slain bandit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi to ensure the rights of such persons are not infringed, Radia’s counsel reasoned. “In any case, neither the script nor the VCD of the film is before the court and without looking on them, how can an opinion be formed,” the court said, adding that the notice be served on the producer who is directed to bring either the VCD or the copy of the script.
