The Supreme Court today refused to ban the controversial film Padmavati, saying it is not inclined in the matter. The apex court also underlined the role of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and said a court cannot assume that role.

Rejecting a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on the Sanjay Leela Bhansali period drama starring actor Deepika Padukone among others, the Supreme Court said, "The censor board has a role and the Supreme Court cannot assume that role. Why should the court interfere to stop the release of a movie which has not been cleared by the censor board?"

10 LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PADMAVATI ROW:

Senior lawyer Harish Salve appeared for Padmavati producer Viacom 18, which had filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, asking it to not interfere in the release of the film based on a medieval Rajput queen. Senior lawyer Harish Salve appeared for Padmavati producer Viacom 18, which had filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, asking it to not interfere in the release of the film based on a medieval Rajput queen. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said Padmavati will not be released in his state "even if it clears the Censor Board". Chouhan announced in Bhopal at an event that the film has "distorted history" and thus cannot be allowed for "release" in his state. "If historical facts are distorted, and if anything is shown or said in the movie against the respect of the country's mother Padmavatiji, then that movie cannot be allowed to release in the land of Madhya Pradesh," Chouhan said. Chouhan's Punjab counterpart and Congressman Captain Amarinder Singh backed the Rajput community for objecting to Bhansali's historical drama that is mired in controversy. The Punjab Chief Minister said it was the right of Rajput people to protest as the film is a "distortion of history which no one will accept". Amarinder Singh, in his comments said, "Anything that is historical event... no one will object. But here they are distorting history. I have also gone to Chittor and returned and seen all things there... So, this is distortion of history and no one will accept it. And if communities are objecting to it then it is their right to object." On Sunday, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, had said the film would not be allowed to release in the state unless its "controversial portions were removed". Even Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had on Saturday written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani to ensure that Padmavati is not released without necessary changes. Some Hindu caste groups, mainly the Shri Rajput Karni Sena of Rajasthan, have been vigorously protesting against the movie's release while some political outfits have demanded that its release be deferred in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections. Shahid Kapoor, who plays the role of Maharawal Ratan Singh in Padmavati, today broke his silence on the controversy surrounding his film. In Goa to attend the International Film Festival of India 2017, Kapoor said, "I don't think there is anything in the film that is unacceptable or that is not in good taste. Eventually Padmavati will come out and in full force. Our constitution says that you are innocent until proven guilty. Same should be extended to Padmavati, it should not be considered guilty even before it is provided for people to judge it."

ALSO WATCH | Padmavati row: Shahid breaks silence on controversy surrounding his film