Mumbai: Marathi actor and film maker Mahesh Manjrekar on Friday got no relief from Bombay High Court in a case filed against him under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act for alleged obscene scenes in his latest Marathi film involving minors.

Justices S S Shinde and Nitin Borkar heard a petition by Manjrekar and two producers seeking to quash the February 24 FIR lodged by Mahim police on the direction of a Pocso court before whom an NGO had filed a complaint regarding the trailer of Nay Varan Bhat Loncha Kon Nay Koncha. Senior advocate Shirish Gupte, for Manjrekar, argued that while the aim of POSCO is to save children, in the film nothing has happened to the boys.

“It is just a creation of art. The scenes shown in the trailer were never part of the film,’’ said Gupte, adding that the trailer has been removed from YouTube.

Gupte also cited the Supreme Court’s observation in the case of film Bandit Queen where it stated that such scenes should be seen so that society can be aware of such crimes. The judges declined Gupte’s request to see the scenes which were termed “obscene’’ saying they just have to see contents of the FIR. 

The judges were not inclined to grant any relief and said the police must conduct the investigation. While Gupte expressed apprehension over coercive action against his clients “for making a piece of art,” the judges said they must move the regular bench which has the assignment on Monday and declined protection until then.