Delhi High Court has asked the producers of the movie ‘Gulaab Gang’, including Sahara One Media and Entertainment Ltd, to appraise their plans of releasing the movie on DVD and Television channels after activist Sampat Pal filed a fresh plea against the movie seeking an injunction on its release on DVD or Television channels.
A bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul has asked the film's producers to give their response on April 24.
Earlier the same bench had over ruled an order of a single judge stalling the release of the movie. The bench passed the new judgement while hearing the plea by Uttar Pradesh-based social activist Sampat Pal seeking an injunction against the release of the film's DVDs and its screening on TV channels.
The activist has alleged that she and her group 'Gulabi Gang' have been shown in poor light and as law breakers in the movie which is primarily based on her life.
However the producer’s of the movie have been opposing the contention. Earlier, the producers had opposed the plea of Pal that the on-going screening of the movie has amounted to "continuous defamation", saying that it had bombed at the box office.
Earlier, on March 5 a single judge bench had stalled the national wide release of the movie of March 7 after hearing Sampat Pal plea and the defamation case filed by her.
However, the larger bench later lifted the stay, saying the film can be shown after giving a clear disclaimer that it has nothing to do with the life of Pal and her organization.
The single judge had noted that while the producers might suffer monetary loss, Sampat Pal will suffer both financial loss, as her copyright over 'Gulabi Gang' has been used without her permission, as well as loss of reputation "which cannot be calculated in terms of money".
The movie ‘Gulaab Gang’, starring Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla, is said to be heavily inspired by Sampat Pal and her ‘Gulaabi Gang’, comprising women vigilantes wearing pink sarees.
Sampat Pal had opposed the movie by saying that she and her members help harassed women and girls by resorting to peaceful means while the promos show that the lead actor, playing her character, as an anti-social element, wielding swords and sickles.