‘Shooter’ banned in Punjab, FIR against producer

Chandigarh, February 9

Hours after Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh ordered a ban on Punjabi movie ‘Shooter’, based on the life of gangster Sukha Kahlwan, the Punjab Police today registered a case against producer/promoter KV Singh Dhillon and others for allegedly promoting violence and gang culture.

The case has been registered under Sections 153 (intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity), 153B (prejudicial to national integration), 160 (committing affray), 107 (breach of peace) and 505 (public mischief) of the IPC in Mohali. The FIR said the movie was likely to instigate youngsters to take up arms, and disturb peace and harmony. Kahlwan, who called himself a “sharpshooter”, was allegedly involved in 20 cases of murder, kidnap and extortion. He was shot by gangster Vicky Gounder and his accomplices on January 22, 2015, while being brought back to Patiala jail after a court hearing in Jalandhar.

Earlier, the CM directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to look into possible action against Dhillon, who in 2019 had reportedly promised in writing that he would shelve the movie, originally titled ‘Sukha Khalwan’. The DGP had also been asked to look into the role of the promoters, directors and actors.

The CM made it clear his government would not allow any movie, song, etc. that sought to promote crime, violence, drug and gang culture or crime in the state. Any such productions/compositions would be dealt with severely, he warned.

The DGP said the matter was discussed at a meeting with the CM on Friday following a proposal by ADGP Intelligence Varinder Kumar recommending a ban on the movie, saying the film’s trailer released on January 18 suggested it had radical content. In his letter to Mohali SSP, Dhillon had said: “Since you are of the opinion that the content of the film may hurt law and order situation, I am discontinuing the project.” However, the producers went ahead with the film, scheduled for release on February 21 under a new title, according to the DGP. — TNS