''Padmaavat'': Allahabad HC issues contempt notice to Prasoon Joshi

Lucknow, January 16

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday issued a contempt notice to chairman of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) over a petition that wants Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’ banned because it "promoted Sati".

The court’s Lucknow Bench has given CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi three weeks to respond. The court will hear the case on February 12.

The case pertains to a petition before the court that claims that Joshi has yet to respond to a representation made to the board on court’s orders.

The petitioner had filed a Public Interest Litigation in the high court in November for a ban on the movie because it “promoted Sati”. The court dismissed the petition on November 9, 2017, but asked the petitioner to approach CBFC, giving the board three weeks to respond. The petitioner filed a representation before the CBFC on November 13, but Joshi has yet to respond.

After a delay of almost two months, Bhansali's 'Padmaavat'— changed from its original name 'Padmavati'— will finally release on December 25. PTI