New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on January 29 two petitions seeking contempt proceedings against Karni Sena leaders for obstructing the screening of film ‘Padmaavat’ that released on Thursday.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud said that the petitions would be heard on Monday as both were mentioned separately on Thursday.
The petitions have been moved by Pune-based social activist Tehseen Poonawala and Mumbai lawyer Vineet Dhanda.
Referring to the widespread protests and vandalism by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena activists, the petitioners have contended that their actions were in violation of the January 18 order of the apex court.
Dhanda has sought contempt proceedings against Shri Rajput Karni Sena founder Lokendra Singh Kalvi, its National President Suraj Pal and member Karam Singh.
Meanwhile, the Shree Rajput Karni Sena on Thursday denied any role in stone pelting on a school bus in Gurugram in Haryana over the screening of “Padmaavat”.
Karni Sena spokesperson Vijendra Singh said: “Rajputs can never even think of attacking a school bus. This is a plot being created by politicians, who wish to weaken our peaceful protest.”
“We have a history of leading from the front. We have never run away…,” he said, adding those who pelted stones were not known to anyone “and hence Karni Sena was being blamed”.
“No one saw who attacked the bus and yet we were blamed. Is there any logic in this immediate judgement?” Singh asked.
“Since the start of the protest, we have been calling for a peaceful movement. We have called for a peaceful janta curfew for today (Thursday) as well.
“We extend our gratitude to cinema hall owners who read our sentiments and didn’t screen the movie, he added.
“Rajputs can never engage in violence with the innocent. They can never throw stones. We strongly deny our role in any such episode.”
He also questioned the role of the electronic media, and said, “had the print media not been there, the electronic media might have killed the base of the fourth pillar of democracy by showing anything without verification.”