Complaint filed against Bollywood’s Aamir Khan for disrespecting Indian army in film Laal Singh Chaddha

Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha has faced a lot of setbacks, starting from the day its trailer was released. Now that the film is in theatres as of Thursday, another challenge has presented itself. An FIR has been filed in Delhi against the actor, the film and others for allegedly disrespecting Hindu sentiments and the Indian army.

According to the Hindustan Times, a Delhi-based lawyer submitted the complaint on Friday, alleging that the portrayal of the army in Laal Singh Chaddha has disrespected the armed forces. The complaint mentioned Khan, who is also one of the producers of the film, Paramount Pictures and director Advait Chandan in his complaint.

As per a report by ANI, in his complaint to the police, advocate Vineet Jindal said that there was “objectionable content” in the movie. He sought an FIR under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 298 (wounding the religious feelings of any person) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.

The complaint read, “In the movie, the makers have depicted that a mentally challenged person [sic] was allowed to join Army to fight in the Kargil War. It is a well-known fact that the best army personnel were sent to fight the Kargil war and rigorously trained army personnel fought the war but the movie makers intentionally depicted the said situation to demoralise and defame the Indian army.”

The advocate also said that the film hurt “religious sentiments” with a scene where a Pakistani personnel asked Laal Singh about praying: “I offer namaz and pray, Laal, why don’t you do the same?” He then replies, “My mother said all this puja paath is malaria. It causes riots.”

In the complaint, he said that the comment is aggravating and a defamatory statement aimed at the entire Hindu community. It also stated that the scene not only provokes sentiments but also causes “enraged emotions among the Hindu religion followers.”

“This statement shows his intent of waging war and activating enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion which is against the ideology of a secular democratic country like and also mischief against Indian army which is a criminal offence as per the law of the land,” Jindal said.

Former England cricketer Monty Panesar also took to Twitter to share similar thoughts about the film Laal Singh Chaddha. In a tweet he wrote, “Forrest Gump fits in the US Army because the US was recruiting low IQ men to meet requirements for the Vietnam War. This movie is total disgrace to India Armed Forces, Indian Army and Sikhs!! Disrespectful. Disgraceful,” with a hashtag to boycott the film.

The film also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan as Laal’s love interest, Mona Singh as his mother and Naga Chaitanya. The film is touted as the official Hindi remake of Tom Hanks starrer Forrest Gump that released in 1994.