Thane: Senior NCP leader Jitendra Awhad and 100 unidentified workers of the party were booked on Tuesday for disrupting the Marathi film ‘Har Har Mahadev’ at a Thane multiplex on Monday night and assaulting a businessman. Awhad had alleged that the film had distorted facts and depicted historic characters in poor light.

Police said they have filed a case of assault and under different IPC sections for rioting. However, no arrest has been made. The police action came on a complaint filed by a businessman, Parikshit Durve, who said he suffered blows, punches and kicks from the NCP mob as he protested the stalling of the show.

With the film being disrupted in Pune too, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis spoke tough on Tuesday, saying beating up moviegoers would not be tolerated and action would be taken against those involved in the ruckus. He said people could express their opposition in a democratic way. “I have not seen the movie and am not aware of the row,” he added.

According to Durve, the cinema hall at the multiplex in Viviana Mall was occupied 50%, when the NCP activists began asking them to leave. “While Awhad was making an address, someone said they should get a refund to which the former state minister said the mall authorities would ensure that. In the meantime, someone remarked that anyone comes to theatres and stalls shows,” said Durve, adding that this enraged the mob, and 8-10 NCP workers came close to his wife. When Durve intervened, he was assaulted, the complaint said.

Later, Avinash Jadhav of the MNS restarted the show despite the NCP activists’ opposition. Jadhav also organized the screening of the film in three halls at the same multiplex on Tuesday, and all the venues were jam packed.

Durve told TOI, “It is unfortunate that political workers barge into a cinema hall with their political agenda. Law abiding people are heckled and assaulted for no fault of theirs. Is there any law for these political workers or are they just for the common man?”

He added, “My wife was initially shocked by the incident and ruckus, but is fine now. I have come for the special screening of the same film organized by the MNS.”