Kochi Court Stays Release Of Film On Maradu Flats Demolition

A Civil Court at Kochi has stayed the release and online streaming of "Maradu 357", a film on the demolition of four apartment complexes in Maradu for violations of CRZ regulations.

The Munsiff's Court, Ernakulam, passed an interim injunction order that the film shall not be released in full or part or its trailer or its songs in theatres or on OTT platform/social media until the completion of the trial in criminal cases filed against builders.

The interim injunction was passed on a suit filed by the builders of the demolished apartment complexes seeking to restrain the producer of the film from releasing it. Sandeep Mehta, the Managing Director of Jain Housing Ltd, Sany Francis, the Managing Director of Holy Faith Builders and Developers Private Limited and K V Jose, the co-promoter of the "Golden Kayaloram" apartment, were the plaintiffs.

Directed by Kannan Thamarakkulam, 'Maradu 357' was announced for release on March 19. The cast includes Anoop Menon, Manoj K Jayan, Dharmajan Bolghatty, Sheelu Abraham, Sarayu, Noorin Shereef etc. '357' denotes the number of flats demolished. The Court has issued notices to director and producers of the film.

The plaintiffs contended that the release of the film when the criminal cases against them was pending will prejudicially affect their right to fair trial.

They submitted that the trailer of the film suggests that there was collusion between government officers and the builders in illegally obtaining building permit. According to them, such cinematic depictions of sub-judice issues will affect their fair trial.

The plaintiffs cited the precedent of the Supreme Court staying the release of the film "Black Friday" till the trial in Bombay blast cases were over. The recent order of the Kerala High Court order on the case against the serial on Koodathayi murder cases was also cited. In that case, the High Court had observed that the TV Serial having striking similarities with the subject matter of criminal case pending trial interferes with administration of justice.

"It is submitted that the dialogues in the trailer are nothing but an attempt to pass a judgement on the issues by usurping and assuming the role of judiciary. Hence the act of the defendants who are the makers of the movie, Maradu 357 is offending a fair trial in a criminal case and thereby amounts to contempt of court and causes defamation to the Plaintiffs as well", the plaint read

Advocates Santhosh Mathew, Vijay V. Paul, Veena Raveendran, Karthika Maria and Gokul Asok of Ninan & Mathew Associates represented the plaintiffs.

The four apartment complexes were demolished as per the orders of the Supreme Court on January 11 & 12, 2020.

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The number 357 denoted the number of apartments which were demolished. According to them, criminal cases were registered against them by the Panangad and Maradu police on complaints filed by the flat owners. The owners had alleged that builders had colluded with officials to obtain permits with an intention to cheat them. The builders said the release of such a film would affect their right to a fair trial in these cases.

Meanwhile, Kannan Thamarakkulam, director of the film, said that the film was about the pain and anxieties of the dwellers of the demolished buildings.