A Jalandhar based court granted interim bail to Punjabi actor Jagjeet Singh Sandhu on Wednesday. The bail was granted in a case of hurting religious sentiments in his latest film ‘Oye Bhole Oye’.
The director of the film Varinder Ramgarhia is another accused in the case which was filed by a Jalandhar based Christian representative. Jagjeet and Varinder were booked on February 22nd after a complaint was filed against them by United People’s League president Sanawar Bhatti. The duo was accused of misrepresenting a Christian prayer at the end of their film’s trailer.
He accused the censor board of certifying the film without due consideration. The matter was kept for hearing on March 5 by Additional session judge D P Singla.
Sandhu’s lawyer has stated in his bail application that the complainant had judged the movie by its trailer and not the full content. Submitting the trailer in a pen drive, he argued: “A viewing will reveal the scene’s respectful and non-offensive nature. Both film and its trailer received censor’s clearance, which shows these complied with all regulatory standards.”
The counsel said the FIR was registered a day after the complaint was filed without any preliminary investigation or seeking a clarification on a censor-certified film.
Sandhu argued: “The alacrity and undue haste in registering the FIR suggests it was driven by political interests or an intent to damage actor’s reputation and curb free speech.”
