The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Election Commission to watch the Modi biopic starring Vivek Oberoi starrer and decide whether it should be banned, legal news portal Bar & Bench reported.
The top court asked EC to give its view on PM Narendra Modi by April 22 in a sealed cover, ANI said.
The film’s producers had moved the court against the stay ordered on its release by the EC on 10 April, a day before it was the first phase of polling began.
The poll panel had banned the screening of the biopic during the current poll period, saying any such film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media.
The Commission, in a separate order, had also directed the producers “not to exhibit the film titled PM Narendra Modi till further orders.
Acting on the complaints of political parties, including the Congress, the poll panel had asserted that any biopic material with the potential to disturb the level playing field should not be displayed in the area where Model Code of Conduct was in force.
The copy of the order was also sent to the Central Board of Film Certification chairman and Secretary, Information and Broadcasting ministry.
The order had specifically stated that in view of the admitted acts and material available on record, this film being a biopic on Narendra Modi, “prime minister and a political leader and a prospective candidate in the current general elections” can not be exhibited in view of Commission’s order.
The EC order came after the Supreme Court had disposed of the petition filed by a Congress activist seeking stay on the release of the biopic on 9 April, saying the poll panel was the right forum to decide the issue.
(With PTI inputs)