Speaking at a panel discussion ar Mumbai Collective, the actress comments in reference to CAA protests, Shahen Baugh shooter, and the Ayodhya verdict is taken as Bhasker questioning the judiciary by the petitioner
By Anannya Srusti
Source: Swara Bhasker Instagram
A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday (17 June, 2020) by one Usha Shetty, seeking criminal contempt proceedings against actor Swara Bhasker for her statements at a panel discussion at ‘Mumbai Collective’ that was held in February this year. The ‘Nil Battey Sannata’ (2015) actress had subtly taken a dig at the Ayodhya verdict.
The petition states that Bhasker allegedly said, “We are now in a situation where our courts are not sure whether they believe in the constitution or not…What then do we do and it seems to me that as everyone has said that the path is clear to us and it has been shown to us by you all whoever of you all have been part of the protest by the students by the women and by the citizen protestors it is to resist…”
The petition further claims that the actress went on to say, “We are living in a country where the Supreme Court of our country states in a judgment that the demolition of Babri Masjid was unlawful and in the same judgment rewards the same people who brought down the mosque”
Hailing from Karnataka, Usha Shetty placed the plea before the Attorney General of India, KK Venugopal, for his consent to list the matter before the apex court. The Attorney General’s consent has been sought in line with the requirement under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act read with Rule (3) of Contempt Proceedings of the Supreme Court.
Shetty stated that the statement made by the Flesh (2020) actress was derogatory and intended to scandalize the Supreme Court. The petitioner went on to say that these comments were ‘a cheap stunt of publicity’ and was deliberately made to incite the masses to ‘resist and revolt against the apex court’. “The statement intends to incite a feeling of no confidence amongst the public with respect to the proceedings of the Supreme Court. It amounts to criminal contempt,” the petition said.
During the panel discussion Swara Bhasker can be seen talking about the Shaheen Bagh shooter Kapil Baisala who had shouted “Yahan sirf Hinduon ki chalegi” (only Hindus will rule in our country, no one else). She further went on to say that we live in a country where our Supreme Court, in one judgment says the demolition of Babri Masjid was unlawful alongside rewarding the people who did the same.
The petition is filed through Advocates Anuj Saxena, Prakash Sharma, and Mahek Maheshwari.
Beyond Bollywood tried contacting the actress, a woman picked up, claiming to be her manager and said that she is currently unavailable for interviews.
