The regional office of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) at Hyderabad was vandalised on Tuesday, by six students from Osmania University.
The Gandhi Nagar police have reportedly registered criminal cases against six OU students, who entered the office on Tuesday afternoon, and damaged furniture, as the board had not cleared Telugu film 'Sharanam Gachchami'.
“Based on a complaint lodged by the CBFC office representative Pradeep Thakur, we have registered a case against the accused under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDP) Act and sections 448, 427 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code," Gandhi Nagar sub-inspector (SI) Gopi Kiran Reddy told the Times of India.
According to reports, the film deals with several issues related to caste, and caste-based reservations, while also highlighting various atrocities committed in the name of caste.
Directed by Enumula Prem Raj, the film was sent to the CBFC office in January, but was rejected after it allegedly showed upper-castes in a bad light.
Writing for Deccan Chronicle, U Sudhakar Reddy quotes CBFC’s regional director P Rajasekhar as claiming that four Examining Committee members had watched Sharanam Gachchami and had unanimously refused to certify it was "likely to incite hatred and disturb public peace".
Speaking to DC, CBFC Central Board member Jeevita Rajasekhar said, “They have an option of review committee and Tribunal. In fact, I was ready to watch the film on Saturday or Monday, but they have sought time till Feb. 27. In fact, after I took over, the RC cleared six movies with cuts after they were refused certificate by the EC. Sensitivities differ from state to state. But the CBFC has same rules in all states...There should be separate censor guidelines for each region or region. The Shyam Benegal Committee recommendations have not been implemented yet.”
Osmania Uni JAC, Girijan Samaj, Dalit Samaj members ransack censor board office in #Hyderabad demanding release of Sharanam Gachami movie. pic.twitter.com/eOBMW7eznw
— Paul C Oommen (@Paul_Oommen) February 21, 2017
Hyderabad Censor Board Office ransacked demanding release of Sharanam Gachami movie. Film based on Caste-reservation was denied certificate. pic.twitter.com/2ZxblzNWyJ
— SAKSHI KHANNA (@tweetsakshi) February 21, 2017
Hyderabad: Dalit student groups create ruckus at Censor Board office demanding certification for release of the film 'Sharanam Gacchami' pic.twitter.com/VF18D8qFtt
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 21, 2017