Prime Minister Narendra Modi was requested by Thiruvananthapuram Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to drop the police case against Payal Kapadia, who just created history by taking home the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival with her film “All We Imagine As Light.” Charges against Kapadia stem from her participation in student demonstrations at Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in 2015.
In reference to Modi’s tweet praising Kapadia, Tharoor demanded that the lawsuit against her be dropped. He emphasized that rather than taking legal action against Kapadia and other FTII students, the government ought to assist her if India is proud of her accomplishment.
Tharoor highlighted the necessity for the government to reevaluate its position on the case against the filmmaker and her fellow students, citing Modi’s tweet hailing Kapadia’s accomplishment. Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty, who spoke in favor of dropping the prosecution against the protesting students, was also quoted by Tharoor in her statement.
It was observed that Kapadia is not on social media, and that tweets about the problem were being sent by a phony account purporting to be hers. Independent fact-checkers attested to the account’s falsity.
In accordance with several articles of the Indian Penal Code, Kapadia and thirty-four other students are accused of crimes such as rioting, criminal intimidation, and unlawful assembly that do not carry a bond requirement. The case’s chargesheet was filed in 2016, and the next court hearing is scheduled for June 26, according to the defence lawyer representing the students.
