Complaint filed against Ram Gopal Varma over his tweet on Draupadi Murmu

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jul 16, 2022 | Dhupali Das

According to his lawyer, the complainant went to court after the police refused to file an FIR...

Digital Desk: A complaint has been filed against filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma for his allegedly derogatory tweet against NDA's presidential poll candidate Draupadi Murmu. Subhas Rajora, the complainant, has requested that an FIR be filed against Varma.

"The tweet was "offensive, obnoxious and smacks of the underlying malice and mischief," which was intended to "tarnish the image and reputation of Murmu," Rajora said in his complaint.

The complaint was filed at the Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate Court under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code for defamation, intentional insult with the intent to cause a breach of the peace, criminal intimidation, and other offenses.

Rajora has cited tweets dated June 22 in this case.

Ram Gopal Varma wrote on June 22, "If DRAUPADI is the PRESIDENT, who are the PANDAVAS? And more importantly, who are the KAURAVAS?" However, two days later, after a massive social media backlash, Varma said he did not intend to hurt anyone.

"This was said just in an earnest irony and not intended in any other way. Draupadi in Mahabharata is my favourite character, but since the name is such a rarity, I just remembered the associated characters and hence my expression. Not at all intended to hurt the sentiments of anyone," Varma added. 

In the complaint, Rajora claims that Varma's tweets amount to disrespect for members of the Scheduled Caste and that he constantly seeks attention by stirring up problems on social media and making disparaging remarks against prominent female politicians and the previous governor of Jharkhand.

According to his lawyer, the complainant went to court after the police refused to file an FIR.

The Bandra court will hear the matter on October 10.