 "Padmavati: Five arrested from Karni Sena, VHP for vandalising rangoli of the film in Surat")
After Deepika’s strong words on Twitter against those who vandalised the Padmavati inspired rangoli at a Surat mall, the Surat police have arrested five men including four of Karni Sena and one from Vishwa Hindu Parishad. As The Hindu reported, the police had lodged an FIR against the vandals on Oct 16.
#Padmavati rangoli being made here in Surat, Gujarat.#SanjayLeelaBhansali @ShobhaIyerSant @bhansaliprod_fc @deepikapadukone @DeepikaPFC pic.twitter.com/wiZPc2WV2s
— Kartik (@Kartik1506_) October 15, 2017
It has also been reported that the clue for the arrest was taken from a video recorded on the very day of the incident where the vandals were shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and damaging the rangoli. “We have arrested five persons, four of them belonging to outfit Karni Sena and one from the VHP. More persons are likely to be arrested as the video footage recovered by us shows 8-10 persons involved in the activity,” said Surat Commissioner of Police Satish Sharma. “I also want to make it clear that the police will deal with strictness against any such action. Freedom of expression is everyone’s right in a democracy, but vandalism will not be allowed,” he then further added. The arrested men are identified as Vikramsinh Sekhawat, Shambhusinh Rathod, Narendra Chaudhary, Shailendra Rajput and Sanjaysinh Gohil. The arrest has been made under various sections of Indian Penal Code including 141, 149 (unlawful assembly), 451 (trespassing) and 427 (mischief causing damage). This Wednesday Deepika wrote a tweet to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, where she said, “Absolutely heart breaking to see the recent attack on artist Karan and his artwork! Disgusting and appalling to say the least! This has to stop now and action must be taken @smritiirani.”
Twitterati also reacted to the incident and criticised the deed.
And they deface the image of their queen who they claim to worship https://t.co/bdkDJv0z7r
— Shobha Sant (@ShobhaIyerSant) October 18, 2017
Why?? What pleasure do they derive by destroying someone's artworks? What's happening India?😭 https://t.co/gpPxy6X6iO
— Simi_Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) October 18, 2017
This is not the first time that Padmavati has run into a controversy. The shoot of the movie and the crew was also attacked severely in Rajasthan a couple of months back by Karni Sena. Last month, the outfit also burnt posters of the film claiming that the movie is distorting the history and legacy of the Rajputs. Padmavati sees Deepika Padukone Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in the title roles. It is all set to release on December 1.
