Mumbai: Observing it was a fictionalized account, Bombay High Court on Thursday paved the way for the release of the film ‘Match Fixing: The Nation at Stake'. HC dismissed a petition filed by 2008 Malegaon blast case accused Lt Col Prasad Purohit against its scheduled Nov release until the special NIA court delivers its verdict.

Purohit is among the accused in the case. A two-judge bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Somasekhar Sundaresan said the "film is not based on any true events but is a fictionalized and dramatized version of the book ‘The Game Behind Saffron Terror', and no scenes should be construed to represent a true or accurate recreation of the actual events that transpired. Once this is the case, we find that the entire apprehension of the petitioner is misconceived."

Purohit apprehended the film will impact the trial as its trailer, he said, suggests the film is based on "true events". The film producer said it is based on a book as a "purely fictional account". HC amended the disclaimer to ensure viewers know the film is "a dramatized version".

HC suggested changes to the disclaimer to make the viewers aware that "No scenes should be construed to represent a true or accurate recreation of the actual events that transpired..."