EC okays Friday release of biopic on PM Narendra Modi: Sources

Sources close to the makers of the film 'PM Narendra Modi' told UNI that the poll body had given them the clearance for its release on April 5, Friday.

The Election Commission has not made an official statement in this regard as it was vested in the domain of the Central Board of Film Certification, the sources said.

ECI counsel had told a Mumbai court on Monday that the release of the film was not a violation of the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections.
Indian National Congress and several other Opposition parties had objected to the release of the film during election time, citing the grounds that it was intended to derive political mileage.

The Congress had sought to defer the release of the movie.

ECI counsel had made the rebuttal when the court took up a PIL, which sought to defer the release of the film, asserting that it was a violation of the MCC.

The Mumbai court had disposed off the plea, ruling that the ECI was seized of the matter. It had asked the poll panel to take a decision on it.

Actor Vivek Oberoi, who portrays Modi in the movie, questioned the stance of the Congress, averring senior lawyers such as Abhishek Singhvi and Kapil Sibal are wasting time on filing PIL on 'such a modest film.'

Oberoi told reporters on Wednesday,"I don't know if they are scared of the film or of Chowkidar's 'danda.''