More legal trouble for Ram-Leela; Bombay High Court issues showcause notice to Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Eros

Looks like there is no end in sight to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s legal woes. Congress leader Sandip Shukla today moved a writ petition in the Bombay High court objecting the usage of the word ‘Ram’ in the movie title Ram-Leela. Advocate B P Pandey who appeared for Sandip later told Tellychakkar.com that Bombay High court has issued showcause notice against all the respondents which included Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Kishore Lulla of Eros and Censor Board. “The High Court after being prima facie satisfied with our plea has issued notices to all respondents asking them to file their replies. The matter will now be heard by the court on 18 November.” Interestingly, just yesterday a Delhi court passed an ex-parte interim order restraining Bhansali and Eros promoters from releasing the movie till further orders. “Unless Sanjay Leela Bhansali gets that order vacated, he won’t be able to release the movie,” averred Sandip’s lawyer. We spoke to the petitioner, Sandip Shukla who is also the Vice president of Maharashtra Ram Leela Mandal, to understand his intention behind filing the writ petition and this is what he had to say. “Basically I am related to Ram-Leela and I am associated with Mumbai’s oldest Ramleela. I am not happy with the movie makers using the word ‘Ram’ in the title of their movie and then depicting vulgarity with Ram and Hanuman’s posters in the background. “ When asked the reason behind the delay in filing the petition Sandip said, “There were petitions filed earlier which were dismissed by courts. Unfortunately, the grounds mentioned in those petition were not right and therefore I thought I had to intervene now since there was no other petition pending.” Sandip says his only grouse against Bhansali is that he has used a sacrosanct name like Ram for a movie which is downright vulgar. When asked if he has heard anything from Bhansali’s end for an out-of-court settlement, Sandip said, “I will not listen to him till the time he changes the name of the movie. We don’t want the name of Lord Ram to be associated with any vulgar things.” With legal woes surmounting for Sanjay, it looks like the director has bitten off more than he can chew this time!!!