Bombay HC to hear petition against controversial film

The Bombay high court on Monday observed that a petition filed seeking a ban on controversial film ‘The Innocence of Muslims’ is in public interest and directed the registry of the court to examine the petition and place it before an appropriate bench.

The Bombay high court on Monday observed that a petition filed seeking a ban on controversial film ‘The Innocence of Muslims’ is in public interest and directed the registry of the court to examine the petition and place it before an appropriate bench.

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The writ petition was moved by Congress member Ameen Mustafa Idrisi, 30, seeking direction to the state government to remove the film from websites such as Google and YouTube.

According to the petitioner’s lawyer Ejaz Naqvi, the petitioner was unwilling to convert the matter into a public interest litigation stating that it was not in the larger interest of the public.

Naqvi later put the case before the Chief Justice who assured that a date would be given soon for hearing the matter.

In his petition, Idrisi has demanded criminal action against the top bosses of Google for letting the film that has ‘hurt religious feelings’ of Muslims across the world to stream online.

The petition has sought that Google and YouTube be booked under the relevant sections of IPC and Information Technology Act, 2000. Idrisi has said the non-Muslim cast and crew of the ‘outrageous and offensive film’ should be booked for insulting the Prophet.