Section 375: Pune Court summons Akshaye Khanna and producers

The two producers and actor Akshaye Khanna was summoned by the Pune Court over the trailer of the film. The court asked them to appear in the court on September 9, 2019.The petition was filed in the court by the Advocate Wajed Pathan.

 The disciplines of law and literature, both being distinct but have the interconnection. One thing appears recurrently in many works treated as literature and that is the element of drama. This is where the interconnection with law becomes so obvious. Nothing could possibly be more dramatic, or attractive, than the setting of a courtroom trial. We have filled with films, either fictionary or the real life based in our film industry. Talvar (based on the Aarushi Talwar murder case), Rustom (based on the Nanavati trial), or Erin Brokovich; serials such as Suits, The People v. O.J. Simpson (on the O.J. Simpson trial), Jolly L.LB. Are such films. It cannot be further ignored that these films sometimes faces the social rebel. Section 375 is one such incidence.

Section 375, a movie on the rape case directed by Ajay Bahl starring Akshaye Khanna and Richa Chadda and is produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak. The film based on Section 375 of Indian Penal Code which all about the offence of Rape. The petitioner alleged that the teaser shows the legal profession in bad light and “maligned”. It, further contended that the circumstances portrayed in the teaser will panic the rape victim to go for the legal procedure and justice. It also pleaded that the release of the film should be stayed. The film is slated to hit the screens on September 13, 2019.

In the teaser, male police officer seems to take the statement of the Rape victim asking the vulgar questions. Further, in the court room scene, the victim seems to be answering the vulgar questions of the defence. The petitioner contended that- such cross-statements are never recorded in an open court but only in-camera”. Furthermore, the defence lawyer is portrayed as the antagonist in the teaser. One of the dialogue included- “We are not in the business of justice… We are in the business of Law” in one scene and “You just tell me the truth, I will frame it accordingly..” in the another. As far as Section 375 of Indian Penal Code is concerned, it deals with the Offence of Rape. It says that, if a man does a sexual intercourse against the will and consent of the women by coercion, misrepresentation or fraud or at a time when she has been intoxicated is of unsound mental health and in any case if she is minor. The movie revolves around the girl belonging to the scheduled cast, alleging that she had been raped by the famous celebrity.

It is not the first time that the lawyers have been portrayed in the negative way. Many films in which lawyers are portrayed as negative may include the very famous “Damini (1993)”, “Jolly L.L.B. (2013)”, “Jolly L.L.B. 2 (2017)”, “Aitraaz (2004)”, “Pink(2016)” any many to count. Also, it cannot be denied that that some Bollywood movies which have been sued in the court of law. It may include the movies like “Bandit Queen(1994)”, “Kurbaan(2009)”, “Padmaavat(2018)”, “Haider(2014)” any many.

Report By-

Sakshee Sahay

Student Member, INBA