Muzaffarnagar administration denies reports of Shorgul being banned; says it seems like a publicity stunt

MEERUT: A day after makers of the film 'Shorgul' - a political drama which also touches upon the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots - claimed that the movie had been banned in Muzaffarnagar, the district magistrate quashed their claims and denied having prohibited the movie.

"The movie has not been banned in Muzaffarnagar," said Dinesh Kumar Singh, district magistrate of Muzaffarnagar. Sub-divisional magistrate, Muzaffarnagar (Sadar), Shyam Awadh Chauhan, voiced Singh's opinion and added, "There is no ban on the movie Shorgul and all these reports of the movie having been banned in the district are false."

"This seems like a publicity stunt. We have infact got requests from social organisations to put a ban on the movie but since we haven't seen it yet, no such decision has been taken. Also, if the theatre owners take any decision to not show the movie, it is completely their call," said Manoj Bajpai, district entertainment tax officer, Muzaffarnagar.

Reports of a ban on the movie surfaced after makers of the film on Tuesday claimed in a statement that the district magistrate of Muzaffarnagar had prohibited screening of "Shorgul" in all theatres across the western UP city as the film touched upon a sensitive issue and the administration feared the film might lead to communal riots.

Muzaffarnagar is not the only region that is apparently mulling the future of the movie. Pankaj Yadav, district magistrate, Meerut, said, "We are still in the process of procurement of the movie so that we can take a decision in favour or against it, however the case is. But as of now, we have not seen the movie and no decision has been taken yet in this regard."

Since the release of the film's trailer, the movie has been mired in controversies. Earlier this month, a PIL filed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Milan Som against the film was dismissed by the Allahabad High Court bench in Lucknow.