SC stays circulation of Laine's book on Shivaji

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the circulation of the controversial book Shivaji a Hindu king in Islamic India authored by the British writer James
Laine.

A bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat stayed the circulation of the book on a SLP moved by Maharashtra government through counsel Samhaji Shinde challenging the
Bombay High Court order that quashed the ban imposed on the book.

The book created considerable tension and violence in several parts of Maharashtra as the author reportedly made several derogratory references to Chatrapati Shivaji,
including on his parentage.

Stung by the protests, the state government banned the circulation of the book but on a PIL filed by certain individuals, the Bombay High Court a fortnight ago lifted the
ban, following which Maharashtra government approached the apex court.