'Gulab Gang' stay order removed, to release tomorrow

Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday cleared the release of controversy-clad 'Gulaab Gang', a movie reportedly based on the life of Bundelkhand activist Sampat Pal, the founder of the famous Gulabi Gang.

The film's makers promised that they would run a disclaimer saying the movie has nothing to do with Sampat Pal or her work. 

Earlier on Wednesday, 'Gulaab Gang' producers had moved a larger bench of Delhi C against the staying order of the movie.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva had stayed the release of the film on Wednesday, saying that if it is allowed to be released it will cause damage to the reputation of Sampat Pal. 

The court said, "Reputation once lost is lost forever and can not come back and even can't be compensated with monetary terms,"

The producers' counsel had argued that the intention of Pal from the start was to derail the film's release at the last moment as she took no action, till filing of the case, after sending a cease and desist notice back in June 2013.

He had also offered that a disclaimer can be run at the start of the film that the incidents depicted in it are not in any manner related to Pal, her life or her organisation.

The bench, however, had rejected the offer and said "simply saying so will not do". It had also questioned Pal as to why she moved the court at the "nth hour". "You should have come a month back," the court had said. Her lawyers had also agreed that she moved the court very late.

Activist Sampat Pal had moved to the high court seeking a restraining order on the release of 'Gulaab Gang'. She told that the filmmakers did not take her permission before making the movie. She also alleged that the lead actress playing her character was shown in bad light in the promos of the film, which will affect her reputation in real life. The movie is directed by debutant Soumik Sen.

'Gulaab Gang' will release on Friday, March 7.