Peter Mukherjea slaps legal notice on CBFC to stop release of film on Sheena Bora

The lawyers of incarcerated media czar Peter Mukherjea have slapped a legal notice on the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanding that a film loosely based on Sheena Bora murder case may show their client in a poor light and, therefore, its release should be stopped till they get to see it.

Kolkata-based director Agnidev Chatterjee has shot a film Dark Chocolate that is going through the post-production phase and is expected to be released in March.

Mahima Chaudhury, Riya Sen, Rajesh Sharma and Sudip Mukherjee have acted in the film.

“It is apparent that the film is per se defamatory, inter alia, with respect to our client. In addition to the above, any release of the said film has the serious potential of creating immense prejudice to our client,” read the letter sent to CBFC sent by Priyanka Khimani & Associates, the solicitor firm of Mukherjea.

A copy was also marked to the director and producer.

“It’s inspired by a crime that is widely reported in the public domain. No one has any copyright on that. We have taken it from there. It’s completely a work of fiction,” said Chatterjee at a news conference in the city on Friday.

“Whatever has been said in the notice is completely untrue. The notice says that whatever is in the film might resemble Peter Mukherjea’s life. It’s a dangerous statement. Does that mean they are saying whatever we have shown in the film is actually what happened to him. Dark Chocolate is also a fiction film,” said the director.

Earlier, Chatterjee also made a film 3 Kanya, inspired by the infamous Park Street gang rape.

The case is still in the courts and the notice says that neither Mukherjea nor his representatives have given their permission for the making, marketing or promotion of the film.

Producer Pradip Churiwal appeared confident of releasing the film releasing in March.

“The notice is marked to the CBFC not to issue any certificate for public exhibition. The allegations are unfounded and arbitrary. The notice says they have gathered information through friends and well wishers. We have not shown the film to anybody... how can they know the content of the film,” said Churiwal.

However, the director agreed that the film is inspired by the sensational murder case.

“ I don’t know why they have approached the censor board. They should have appealed to the court and sought an injunction. This is just harassment. They are asking the censor board to let them watch the film,” added Chatterjee.

“We are yet to complete the film. We will submit the film for censorship and we will take legal aid when required,” said the director.

Sheena Bora, the daughter of Mukherjea’s wife Indrani and her former husband, went missing on April 24, 2012. Three years later the nation was shocked when, in August 2015, police arrested her mother Indrani Mukerjea for allegedly killing her.

In November 2015 Peter Mukherjea, Indrani’s husband, was arrested in connection with the murder case.

Presently he is in judicial custody at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai.