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SC asks Bombay police for further details on Fire

The Supreme Court today directed the police commissioner of Bombay to file within four weeks an additional affidavit disclosing the result of investigation, number of arrests made and chargesheets filed in connection with violent incidents of December last year against the screening of the controversial film Fire.

The direction was issued by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice A S Anand, Justices M Srinivasan and S N Phukan, as the judges were not satisfied with the affidavit filed by the deputy commissioner of police (Bombay) pursuant to an earlier direction.

The judges were hearing a public interest petition filed by film personalities, including Dilip Kumar and Mahesh Bhatt, against the failure of the government to ensure the smooth screening of the Deepa Mehta-directed film in Bombay and New Delhi.

Since the Union government and the police commissioner of Delhi failed to file their affidavits as directed by the court, they were given four weeks time to do so.

The affidavit filed by deputy commissioner of police (operation) Bombay, Dalbir Bharati, stated that 43 Shiv Sainiks were arrested in connection with the violent incidents at Cinemax and New Empire theatres, and chargesheets had also been filed.

The affidavit also stated that adequate security cover had been provided to Dilip Kumar, Mahesh Bhatt and the others.

UNI

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