Padmavati row: No action yet on BJP leader who offered Rs10 crore for Bhansali, Deepika’s head

The massive controversy surrounding Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati took a disturbing turn last evening when Haryana BJP’s chief media coordinator Suraj Pal Amu openly announced Rs10 crore reward to anyone who beheads Bhansali and his film’s lead actress, Deepika Padukone. He also threatened physically harming actor Ranveer Singh

Speaking at an event in Haryana, he said, “Want to congratulate Meerut youth for announcing Rs5 crore bounty for beheading Deepika, Bhansali. We will reward the ones beheading them, with Rs10 crore, and also take care of their family's needs.” He was referring to the statement of a Rajput group member who promised to reward anyone who beheads Bhansali. 

Amu later attacked Ranveer Singh saying, “If you don’t withdraw your statements, we will break your legs and make you hold them.” Interestingly, it is not known which statement he is referring to as Singh hasn’t made any comments ever since the controversy erupted. 

Coming from a member of the ruling party, the statements have shocked people, and so has the inaction of the government.

Threatening and announcing reward for murder amounts to criminal intimidation, which is a grave offence under Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to the section, “Whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.” 

While there have been quite a few cases recently in the country where people have been arrested for harmless criticism and statements made on social media, neither the member of the Rajput group nor Amu have been arrested yet. In fact, even the party has not taken any action against Amu yet.