Ram Gopal Varma quizzed by CCS cops

HYDERABAD: Film director Ram Gopal Varma appeared before the officials of the Central Crime Station (CCS), Hyderabad, on Saturday afternoon in connection with a case booked against him for alleged derogatory remarks on women with his controversial movie God Sex and Truth (GST).

The filmmaker’s controversial movie starring US porn star Mia Malkova was released through internet in January. He was expected to come to the police station around 1 pm but he reached early, around 12 noon, along with his lawyer . A five-member team questioned him. “Post a legal opinion, necessary action will be taken,” the police said, adding that he was asked to come again on Monday.

Ram Gopal Varma was booked by the CCS on January 25, a day before the release of his movie, after an activist filed a complaint. “A case under Section 67 of Information Technology (IT) Act of 2000 was booked against him for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form” the police said.

The filmmaker was also booked under Sections 506 and 509 of the IPC for making personal comments against a women activist.

The Cyber Crime officials issued a fresh notice to Varma this week as he failed to appear earlier. He was asked 25 questions by the officials. 

Women's organisations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh had staged protests in January for a ban on the release of the movie through internet and demanded Varma's immediate arrest. The activists alleged that the director released the movie on the web to avoid certification by the authorities. They said that the filmmaker is portraying woman as a sex object and promoting pornography.