Chennai, Dec 12 (PTI) Film director A R Murugadoss has moved the Madras High Court, seeking to quash a case filed against him over certain scenes in the Vijay-starrer 'Sarkar' that were critical of the welfare schemes of the ruling AIADMK.
When the petition by the film director came up Wednesday, Justice Anand Venkatesh adjourned the matter to Friday and orally directed the additional public prosecutor representing the Tamil Nadu government not to take any action till then.
The police have registered an FIR under various sections of the IPC, including 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 153A(1)(a) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, language etc.).
The case was registered following a complaint by G Devarajan, who objected to some scenes in the movie that were critical of the government's distribution of freebies such as grinders and mixies.
In his petition, Murugadoss submitted that no prima facie case was made out against him.
In a free democracy, criticising government policy was not an offence, he claimed.
In fact, it is a fundamental right guaranteed to the citizens under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, Murugadoss added.
Pointing out that disputed scenes in the movie had already been removed by the Board of Film Certification, the petitioner said no offence as claimed by the complainant was committed by him.
AIADMK workers had staged protests against the film, which released last month, after several ministers took exception to scenes in it criticising welfare schemes and a reference to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
