Hearing the petition of young Mumbai lawyer Amritpal Singh Khalsa, the Mumbai High Court today directed the Central Board of Film Certification to review the portion the movie ZERO, its trailer and posters wherein the lead actor Shah Rukh Khan is shown to be wearing a Kirpan -one of the five articles of the Sikh faith, in a derogatory manner. The matter has been listed for final arguments on 18 December as the film is slated for release on 21 December.

Hearing the arguments from all sides, a bench of Justice B. P. Dharmadhikar and Justice Sarang Kotwal directed the Central Board of Film Certification to review the impugned section of the trailer as the petitioner had alleged that this was blasphemous and had offended his religious sensibilities.

Speaking exclusively on the phone line from Mumbai, Amritpal Singh said, “I am glad that the Mumbai High Court has taken cognizance of the matter. Let us hope that the makers of ZERO see reason and withdraw the scene which is offensive to the Sikhs.” He further clarified that he had told the court that neither he nor the Sikhs are against the movie in totality, but the unnecessary scene showing Shah Rukh Khan wearing the Kirpan must be removed from the movie, trailer and the posters.

Singh Sabha Mumbai has also petitioned the CBFC and they have communicated to Singh Sabha through a letter that they will review the complaint and take necessary action.Vice President of the premier organisation of the Sikhs in Mumbai Kulwant Singh and his associate Mandeep Singh Laadi were present in the court room when the arguments were underway. Speaking to WSN, Kulwant Singh said, “We are pursuing the matter with the Central Board of Film Certification since the day we came to know about the objectionable trailer and poster. If there is a need, Singh Sabha will join the petitioner with another petition on the subject to further boost the Sikh case.”

Senior counsel Navroz Seervai appeared for Shah Rukh Khan whereas CBFC was represented by Advocate Sethna. The petitioner was represented by the lawyer himself.

Sikh circles in Mumbai and elsewhere are hopeful that the Mumbai High Court would do justice to the Sikhs.

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The full order of the Mumbai High Court in the matter is awaited.

Mumbai, 30 November 2018, WSN News Bureau