Deepika Padukone(L) Sanjay Leela Bhansali(R)

MEERUT: A Meerut-based Thakur leader on Thursday offered Rs 5 crore to anyone who beheads Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actress Deepika Padukone. “Anyone who brings the head of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Deepika Padukone will be rewarded with Rs 5 crore. Rani Ma Padmavati had sacrificed her life with 12,000 other women in mass immolation (Jauhar), and Bhansali has raised a question on her courage by showing her in bad light in his film. This is unacceptable. Either both of them should leave the country or get ready to be beheaded,” said Thakur Abhishek Som, national president of Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Yuva Mahasabha .

The Thakur leader’s bizarre announcement came a day after UP principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar wrote a letter to the Union information and broadcasting ministry that if the film is released in its current version, it may lead to a law and order situation in the civic polls-bound state.

“Some members of the Thakur community who hold important positions in the state may not be protesting against Padmavati, but a large number of others will fight for the honour of Rani Ma Padmavati. Bhansali must re-read history to know the real facts about her,” said Som.

Asked if he has Rs 5 crore to give away as reward, Som said, “The Kshatriya community is not that weak. If required, we can collect even more money as Rani Ma Padmavati’s honour is of paramount importance to us.”

Som added that if no one beheads Bhansali and Padukone, he will do it personally. Queried about the consequences that his speech or actions may have, he said, “I am not afraid of police action and I am ready to sacrifice my life for this cause. No one will be able to protect Bhansali and Padukone.”

Meanwhile, when asked why police were not acting against elements openly issuing threats to a well-known film director and actress, Meerut SSP Manzil Saini said, “The video in which Abhishek Som has said all this was shot in Delhi. But since he belongs to Meerut, we are waiting for somebody to come forward and file an FIR. In case no one files a complaint, an FIR will be filed against him under IPC Section 506 (criminal intimidation) by taking suo motu cognizance of the matter.”

Although the SSP said that the video was shot in Delhi, it was in fact recorded in Meerut’s Sardhana subdivision, where a group of journalists had gathered for Som’s press conference on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Bajrang Dal members protested at Meerut’s PVS Mall and warned the mall management against showing Padmavati trailer during the screening of other films. “I have informed my seniors about the incident and am waiting for their instructions,” said Manoj Mishra, unit manager, Inox, PVS Mall.

In Video: A Meerut-based Thakur leader on Thursday offered Rs 5 crore to anyone who beheads Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actress Deepika Padukone.