Complaint filed against Satyameva Jayate for alleged misuse of national emblem

After a complaint of allegedly hurting religious sentiments was filed against Satyameva Jayate in Hyderabad, the film, starring John Abraham, Aisha Sharma and Manoj Bajpayee, has gotten itself in trouble in Mumbai. A lawyer has filed a complaint against the film for using the national emblem, the Ashok Stambh, in the film's trailer for commercial purposes. 

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“An advocate, Ramakant Patil, has filed a complaint against upcoming Bollywood [Hindi] movie Satyameva Jayate for allegedly disrespecting National Emblem in the trailer of the movie. Patil says, ‘I have filed the complaint because Ashok Stambh can't be used for business purpose,’” news agency ANI tweeted.

Section four of The State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005 states that "no person shall use the emblem for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design, except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed.” 

The law further states that the violation of this law is a punishable offence and the accused may face more than six months in prison. “Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 4 for any wrongful gain shall be punishable for such offence with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months, which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to Rs5,000.” 

Last month, Syed Ali Jaffery, general secretary of the Bhartiya Janata Party Minority Morcha, had filed a case against the film at the Dabeerpura police station in Hyderabad claiming that the Muharram rally scene shown in the film's trailer allegedly hurts the religious sentiments of the Shia community.

Satyameva Jayate, directed by Milap Zaveri, is scheduled to be released on 15 August. It will clash with the Akshay Kumar-starrer Gold at the box office. 

Watch the film's trailer below: