AMN
The Mumbai Police is maintaining a strict vigil outside theatres in the city in view of the expected protests against the film “Padmaavat” which hit the screens today.
The film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been facing protests by the Rajput organisation Karni Sena and other fringe groups over allegations of distorting the historical facts.
The city police yesterday took more than 100 supporters of the Karni Sena into preventive custody as they gathered to hold protests against the film at various places.
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Two contempt petitions were filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday against three members of Karni Sena and four state DGPs for allegedly violating the apex court’s order and disrupting
law and order in connection with the screening of Hindi film ‘Padmaavat’.
The apex court would now hear the matter on January 29, Monday.
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An official said as the Republic Day preparations are also going on in the country’s financial capital, the police have already issued a general alert and security personnel are on their toes to avoid any untoward incident.
The official said besides providing security cover outside theatres, some police personnel may also be deployed inside cinema halls, wherever required, to prevent any untoward incident.
The makers of the film had recently approached the Mumbai Police requesting measures to ensure smooth release of the movie.
The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is based on the saga of the 13th century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.The Supreme Court had last week paved the way for the nationwide release of “Padmaavat”, by staying the ban on its screening in Gujarat and Rajasthan.