Yaariyan 2 makers, actor booked in another case for ‘hurting’ Sikh sentiments

PTI, Sep 1, 2023, 7:42 PM IST

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The Punjab Police on Friday registered another case against the producers of the upcoming movie ‘Yaariyan-2’ at the complaint of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee which took exception to an actor wearing ”kirpan” in one of the film’s songs.

The Amritsar Police has registered an FIR against actor Meezaan Jafri, directors Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao and producer Bhushan Kumar, police said.

The FIR has been registered under IPC Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code.

Another FIR under the same IPC Section was registered in Jalandhar district against them on Wednesday on the complaint of a member of the Sikh Talmel Committee.

SGPC Secretary Partap Singh said that the non-Sikh actor had hurt the Sikh principles, ‘maryada’, and lifestyle by wearing ‘Gatra Kirpan’ (a symbol Sikh faith). The Amritsar Police has registered a case at its E-Division police station.

The SGPC Secretary said though the film’s makers have apologised for their act on a social media platform, the scene that hurt Sikh sentiments was yet to be properly removed.

”The song is still up on YouTube …. only the kirpan has been blurred by editing but the gatra (cloth belt used to carry kirpan) remains intact, which raises serious questions on the intent of the filmmakers,” he said.

Earlier, Harpreet Singh, a member of the Sikh Talmel committee, in his complaint had argued only a baptised Sikh can wear the ‘kirpan’ as per the Sikh Code of Conduct.

The scene under contention comes during the song ‘Saure Ghar’ in the film, a trailer of which was recently released.

The film’s makers had earlier claimed that the actor was wearing a ‘khukri’ (a curved knife) and not a ‘kirpan’ and that they have no intention to offend or disrespect any religious beliefs.

”We are not satisfied with your illogical clarification,” the SGPC shot back.