Kolkata Police has issued a legal notice to Sanoj Mishra, the author and filmmaker behind the controversial film 'The Diary of West Bengal', summoning him to appear for questioning at a city police station on May 30, news agency IANS reported.
According to sources in law enforcement, the movie's trailer was recently published on YouTube and, soon after, on May 11, a complaint was filed claiming that the movie appears to have been created with the intention of tarnishing the reputation of West Bengal.
"Following preliminary investigation, the top brass of the city felt that there is sufficient ground to question the director in the matter and hence, a notice has been served to him asking him to report at Amherst Street Police station at 12 noon on May 30," a city police official was quoted by IANS in its report.
The notification has been provided in accordance with Section 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
Sanoj Mishra, the renowned director of the Hindi movie "The Diary of West Bengal," shares his thoughts regarding the recent notice he received from the West Bengal police, accusing him of attempting to tarnish the image of Bengal through his film. "My intention is not to malign the image of the state. We have shown only facts in the film which are well-researched," he said.
"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," Sanoj Mishra said, ANI reported.
The West Bengal government came under scrutiny when it prohibited the showing of "The Kerala Story," citing concerns that the film's content could disrupt unity among different communities within the state.
Subrata Sen, the filmmaker behind the movie, successfully appealed to the Supreme Court to have the ban on it lifted. The ban implementation by the state government received negative feedback from opposition parties, civil society, intellectuals, and notable figures.
(With Inputs From IANS, ANI)