Lawyer Harish Salve threatened for defending 'Padmaavat'; files police complaint
What's the story
The Delhi Police filed an FIR on Friday against an unknown person for allegedly threatening senior lawyer Harish Salve, who defended Padmaavat's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the Supreme Court recently. This comes a day after the apex court cleared the controversial film for an all-India release, staying a ban imposed by governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. Read on for more.
The threat
Caller claimed to be a member of Karni Sena
The caller who dialled Salve on his office landline threatened to physically harm him for siding with Bhansali. He claimed to be a member of Karni Sena, the Rajput fringe-group that has been staging violent protests demanding a ban on the period drama. The group, however, has denied any involvement. "To blame Karni Sena for everything is wrong," sena's founder Lokendra Kalvi told NDTV.
Details
Despite protests, Padmaavat to release across India on January 25
Producers of Bhansali's magnum opus had moved the SC against state bans on Wednesday. Salve had contended in the top court that making a film was every filmmaker's right, as guaranteed by the Constitution through freedom of speech and expression. The film, which was previously slated for a December 1 release, will now open in theatres on January 25.