Petition filed by BJP MLA against Prakash Jha's 'Jai Gangajaal' dismissed

The Patna High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by a BJP MLA alleging filmmaker Prakash Jha s movie "Jai Gangaajal" tarnished his image by portraying him negatively. Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah dismissed the petition filed by BJP MLA from Bankipore in Patna district Nitin Navin. 

The court order came as a big relief for the movie set to be released coming Friday. The same court had five days back issued notices to Prakash Jha and his Mumbai-based film production company with a direction to reply.

"Jai Gangaajal," starring Priyanka Chopra and Prakash Jha himself, among others, is all set to hit the screens on March 4.

The MLA had alleged that the film-maker had tarnished his image by portraying the villain in the movie as a four-time MLA from Bankipore which knowingly coincided with him in reality. Navin had refused to buy the argument given by Jha that he was not aware that an Assembly constituency by the name Bankipore, as shown in the movie, actually existed.

"In addition to being born in Bihar, Prakash Jha had contested Lok Sabha election in the state on a JD (U) ticket. Hence, it can t be believed that he does not know the existence of Bankipore and Lakhisarai as mentioned in the movie for commercial purposes," Navin said.

The MLA had said he had asked Jha to tender an apology and remove the reference of his constituency, which Jha did not do, forcing him to approach the Patna High Court.