HC restrains 'Chakravyuh' makers from releasing song 'Mehngai'

The film Chakravyuh, directed by Prakash Jha and produced by Sunil Lulla, is scheduled to be released on October 24 and the song is said to be spoof on the issue of inflation.

Justice Kailash Gambhir allowed Bata India Ltd's plea in the civil law suit alleging that a satirical mention of the company's name in the song "Mehngai" is defamatory, and directed that the song will not be released till the plea is decided.

"...The defendants (film makers), their employees, servants, agents, partners/ proprietors, directors... Any person or entity acting on their behalf or under their authority are accordingly restrained from releasing, transmitting, distributing... Or communicating to the public by any means or technology, aural or audio visual performance of the impugned song Mehngai using the name of the plaintiff (Bata India Ltd) therein till final disposal of the suit," Justice Gambhir said in an interim order.

According to the plaintiff, the lyrics in the song are offending and would cause serious harm to the reputation and goodwill of the company.

Urging the court to pass a restrain order against the director, producer, writer and producer of the song Mehngai, A M Turaz and Vijay Verma, the shoe company said "the defamatory song has been used by the film makers on You Tube to promote the film."