Date: December 03, 2024

Amit Shah on Varma Controversy: High Court Relief for Filmmaker

High Court Grants Temporary Relief to Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma

In a significant development, the Andhra Pradesh High Court provided relief to filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) by restraining the State police from taking any coercive action against him for a week. Varma had been facing multiple cases alleging that he shared morphed images of prominent leaders, including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, on social media.

Allegations Against Filmmaker Varma

The cases accused Varma of posting “indecent” and altered photographs of the leaders and their families on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). These posts reportedly caused public uproar and led to legal complaints. Varma’s advocate, Rajagopallavan Tayi, defended the filmmaker, arguing that the images were promotional materials for an upcoming movie and not intended to offend or harm.

Legal Arguments in Varma’s Defense

Tayi petitioned the High Court to club all the complaints filed across the State into a single case for a fair trial. He emphasized that Varma’s social media activity did not constitute a criminal offense and argued that the complainants not directly impacted, questioning their legitimacy to file the cases.

The court accepted the argument temporarily, postponing the matter to December 9 and granting Varma relief until then.

Police Notices and Varma’s Response

The Prakasam district police had issued two notices summoning Varma for questioning. However, the filmmaker did not appear in person, citing his willingness to cooperate digitally instead. He maintained that he had no intention of absconding and criticized a section of the media for sensationalizing the issue.

Varma’s Critique of Media and Social Media

In a press conference held in Hyderabad, Varma denounced the hype created around the allegations. He asserted that no individual or authority could control the reach and influence of social media platforms. Varma also reaffirmed his commitment to defending his actions in court.

Upcoming Legal Developments

The petition to consolidate all cases against Varma will be taken up on December 11. Until then, the High Court’s directive ensures that no immediate punitive action can be taken against the controversial filmmaker.