Kolkata: After ‘The Kerala Story’, a fresh controversy is brewing in West Bengal.
Kolkata Police has summoned ‘The Diary of West Bengal’ director Sanoj Mishra for questioning in connection with a case filed against his film.
Following a written complaint at Amherst Street police station earlier this month, a case was registered alleging that the film tried to defame West Bengal.
The director has been asked to appear before police on May 30.
“There are reasonable grounds to question the director of the film to ascertain the facts and circumstances of this case,” the legal notice issued to Mishra stated.
Mishra, however, said that the case was filed to “harass” him.
The BJP wasted no time in hitting out at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for trying to ‘muzzle’ freedom of speech and expression.
“After a failed attempt to ban The Kerala Story (the film is still not in theatres because owners are being threatened with punitive action, if they do), Mamata Banerjee’s administration is now intimidating the director and producer of The Diary of West Bengal, a movie based on true events, on the prevailing condition in the state,” party leader Amit Malviya tweeted on Friday.
The trailer of ‘The Diary of West Bengal’ claims there were “mass murders, rapes and a Hindu exodus” occurring in West Bengal, and also that Bengal is the new Kashmir of India.
Defending his movie, the director said his movie is based on facts.
“I have made a movie based on facts. I urge the prime minister, home minister to intervene in the matter. There are a lot of mass murders, rapes and a Hindu exodus happening in West Bengal. I have done a lot of research and the movie is completely based on facts,” Mishra said.
He added that the makers are planning to release the film in August.
“I will make sure the movie gets released… I am not against Didi (Mamata Banerjee), I am against the system,” Mishra claimed.
