PROTESTS

Padmavati row: Brother of man found hanging at Raj fort calls it a murder

India Film Under Attack Members of India's Rajput community burn an effigy of film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and shout slogans as they protest against the release of 'Padmavati' | AP

The row over upcoming Bollywood flick Padmavati took a bloody turn on Friday when the body of a  40-year-old man was found hanging at the Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur with the message Padmavati ka virodh (in protest against the film Padmavati).

Chetan Kumar Saini (40), a resident of Shastri Nagar here and a handicraft worker, was found hanging from the boundary wall of the fort.

The message, written on the stones near the fort wall adjacent to the body, read: Hum putle nahin jalate....latkate hain (we don't burn effigies, we hang them).

However, the brother of the deceased has come out alleging foul play in the entire episode and demanding an investigation.

"My brother cannot commit suicide, it appears to be a murder. Will demand an investigation into the death. He has nothing to do with the threat note written on rocks Padmavati," Ram Ratan Saini was quoted as saying by media reports.

Padmavati has been facing the wrath of various Rajput groups and political leaders, who have accused the film's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali of distorting history.

Many groups have been protesting amid rumours that there was a romantic dream sequence between queen Padmini and Allauddin Khilji. However, Bhansali said in an appeal that there was no dream sequence and it was all a rumour.

Activists of the Karni Sena earlier this month vandalised a theatre in Kota, Rajasthan, over reports that it was showing a trailer of Padmavati. A Karni Sena leader threatened actor Deepika Padukone, who plays the lead in the film, with physical harm.

However, historians are divided on whether Padmini actually existed. She finds mention in the 16th century epic poem 'Padmavat'. 

The release of the movie, earlier scheduled for December 1, has been deferred.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Topics : #Padmavati

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