Supreme Court to hear pleas seeking delay of Modi biopic release on 8 April

The Supreme Court will hear petitions on 8 April seeking to put off the release of a film on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi until after the Lok Sabha election.

The film, PM Narendra Modi, stars Vivek Oberoi in the title role and had been due for release on 5 April, less than a week before polling begins on 11 April. Results are to be announced on 23 May.

The petitioners

The petitions were filed by Congress leader and advocate Aman Panwar and by Satish Gaikwad, a leader of the Republican Party of India.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Panwar, told a bench of Justices S.A. Bobde, S. Abdul Nazeer and Indira Banerjee that releasing the film just before the polls would affect free and fair elections, and with them democracy and the basic structure of the Constitution. He questioned why a film made by people linked to the ruling party should be allowed during the elections, arguing it would disturb the level playing field.

The Bombay High Court and the EC

Gaikwad approached the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court dismissed his plea on 1 April. The High Court declined to intervene on the ground that the Election Commission would examine the matter. The commission had told the High Court that the film did not breach the Model Code of Conduct, which took effect when the election dates were announced on 10 March, and that it had already issued a notice to the makers.

Before the Supreme Court, Gaikwad argued that the High Court had not applied its mind properly. He said the trailer was released 10 days after the code came into force, and alleged that this showed a joint effort by all the respondents, including producer Suresh Oberoi, the actor’s father, to defy the code. He also noted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had released the film’s poster. He said the film concerned a candidate in the election, which runs from 11 April to 19 May, and could influence voters.

What happened next

The 2019 Lok Sabha election was counted on 23 May 2019. The BJP won 303 seats, and Narendra Modi was sworn in for a second term on 30 May 2019.

See also: more election news

Originally published on 4 April 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us