Dhananjay Mahapatra (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 24, 2020)

New Delhi: After pleading for no punishment to convicted contemnor Prashant Bhushan, attorney general for India K K Venugopal on Sunday refused to permit filing of a contempt petition against actor Swara Bhasker for her allegedly derogatory comments against the Supreme Court on the Ayodhya verdict.

Consent of the AG or the solicitor general is needed to initiate contempt proceedings against anyone. Venugopal told TOI, “I declined consent as there is no attack on the SC. It is mere innuendo. Initiating contempt proceedings would mean giving more credence to her statement, which is not needed.”

On the petition against Bhasker, the AG said, “The SC need not be extra sensitive. If we start contempt proceedings, it unnecessarily gives publicity to the wrong remarks. In this case, her ire was more against the government and the comments against the SC were mere innuendoes.”

Venugopal himself had initiated contempt proceedings against Bhushan for accusing the government of forging documents in the CBI director’s appointment and later on sought its withdrawal after the lawyer regretted the mistake on his part and withdrew the allegations. On the petition against Bhasker, the AG said, “I do not want the Supreme Court to be embroiled in another controversy when one (against Bhushan) is already attracting a lot of adverse public reaction.”

“The SC should not be jumping to conclusions about someone scandalising the court and drawing up contempt proceedings when foreign jurisdictions have gradually discarded contempt for scandalising the courts through mere criticism.”

Bhasker had said, “We are living in a country where the Supreme Court states in a judgment that demolition of Babri Masjid was unlawful and in the same judgment rewards the same people who brought down the mosque.” One Usha Shetty had termed Bhasker’s statement contemptuous and sought the AG’s permission to initiate contempt proceedings against her.

Sources told TOI that Shetty has now moved the petition before solicitor general Tushar Mehta for permission. It is not clear in the Contempt of Court Act whether a person intending to initiate contempt proceedings against another could seek permission from the SG after the same was declined by the AG.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 21, 2016)

The very adventurous Ajay Devgn could end up starring in the most controversial film of his career. Writer Vijayendra Prasad of Baahubali and Bajrangi Bhaijaan fame, has offered Ajay a film set during the turbulent times that followed the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. The film, titled Kabir, would possibly give Devgn a chance to play the most controversial role of his career.

Says a source, “It is not a pro-government film. Kabir takes a look at the turmoil that our country faced after the Babri Masjid was demolished and one man’s heroic attempt to stand up to the violence that followed.”

Sources say Ajay has heard the subject and liked it. K V Vijayendra Prasad will direct while Censor chief Pahlaj Nihalani will produce it.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; August 11, 2015)


Nihalani has bought Prasad’s script. The film is based on the controversial demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Says Nihalani, “When I heard the plot-line I was bowled over. I wanted to work with Vijayendra Prasad. He is a brilliant writer.”