Controversial remarks against Sunni Muslims in the movie “Ram Ki Janmabhoomi”

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has recently expressed mental reservations on the matter of whether the defamation case against Jitender Tyagi (formerly known as Waseem Rizvi, a prominent figure who converted from Islam to Hinduism) will continue in connection with derogatory remarks made against Sunni Muslims in his film “Ram Ki Janmabhoomi.”

In a case concerning objectionable content in the 2018 film “Loveyatri,” Justice Rahool Chaturvedi of the Supreme Court had expressed his mental reservations. In that case, the Supreme Court had commented that there is very limited scope for filing defamation cases in a series of such films approved by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Justice Chaturvedi stated that after studying the relevant decision, it appears that no case is made against the petitioner (Tyagi/Rizvi). Despite this, the High Court refused to dismiss the defamation case against Tyagi and instead directed him to file a detailed discharge application in the trial court.

Justice Chaturvedi also remarked that the court understands that a mechanism of censorship has been provided in place, and the court is not inclined towards breaking that scheme. Tyagi (formerly chairman of the Shia Central Waqf Board, Uttar Pradesh) had filed an application to dismiss the defamation case filed against him for making derogatory remarks against distinguished personalities of the Sunni sect.

The film “Ram Ki Janmabhoomi,” written and produced by Tyagi, contains these remarks. In this matter, a person named Abdul Fahad Farooqui filed a defamation case, expressing concern that the screening of the film could promote sectarian discord. Subsequently, charges were filed against Tyagi under sections 153(A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 504 (intentional insult) of the Indian Penal Code.