NEW DELHI: ‘Indu Sarkar’, a film which dramatises the period of the National Emergency between 1975 and 1977, was released today after the dismissal of three different cases against the film.

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the plea of a woman, who claims to be the biological daughter of late Sanjay Gandhi, seeking a stay on the release of the film.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said the film is an “artistic expression” within the parameters of law, and there was no justification to stall its release.

The film had earlier faced problems when the Central Board for Film Certification had demanded 14 cuts in the political drama. Abiding by the revising committee of the CBFC’s suggestions, director Madhur Bhandarkar made revisions to the film, about which Bhandarkar informed the apex court.

Counsel for the petitioner had submitted that the movie was “full of concocted facts and is totally derogatory.”

The Bombay High Court had rejected a similar plea by the woman on 24 July on the grounds that the petitioner was unable to make her case seeking stay on the release of the movie. The court had further observed that none of the acknowledged descendant of Sanjay Gandhi had raised an objection to the movie.

The Delhi High Court also dismissed yesterday the plea by a lawyer to revoke the CBFC’s clearance. Merely stating that one is a strong believer of Gandhis does not give a right to seek a stay on the release of the film, it said. The petition claimed the movie depicted late Indira Gandhi and her late son Sanjay in a bad light and was a “propaganda film.”