A Mumbai court has received a criminal defamation case against filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma for his controversial tweet on NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu.
On June 22, the filmmaker tweeted, “If Droupadi is the President who are the Pandavas? And more importantly, who are the Kauravas?”
The filmmaker, however, after two days clarified that he did not intend to hurt anybody’s sentiments.
He further tweeted, “This was said just in an earnest irony and not intended in any other way…Draupadi in Mahabharata is my favourite character but since the name is such a rarity I just remembered the associated characters and hence my expression. Not at all intended to hurt sentiments of anyone.”
The complaint against Varma was filed by one Subhas Rajora on July 14 who sought action against Varma for offences under Sections 499 (defamation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
DV Saroj, the lawyer of the complainant, issued a press note stating that the tweet by the filmmaker has outraged the “respect of women on social media”.
The note further said that Varma has made the derogatory remarks deliberately against the senior politician and former Governor of Jharkhand which are obnoxious offensive and intend to put the reputation of a lady at stake.
The press note says that the statement carries an ill and deceitful intention gain and fame the film industry.
Complainant Rajora moved the court after his complaints to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nirmal Nagar Police Station and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Bandra bore no fruit.
The case was registered on July 14 and will be heard on October 11.