Overview
- The High Court, ruling Tuesday, dismissed a plea by the accused's father to stop the release of 'Kaalam Paranja Kadha'.
- Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas questioned how a film would impair a fair trial and signaled that a defamation claim would be hard to sustain.
- India's film certification board, the CBFC, had already granted a U/A 16+ certificate after a Revising Committee review that required minor edits and disclaimers.
- A CBFC counsel who viewed the movie told the court that names and key details differ from the real case and said the film carries messages on drug abuse and online gambling.
- The underlying case against A R Afan for killing five relatives remains on trial in the Principal Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram, and the detailed High Court order is awaited.