Kin of slain rape accused urge SC panel to stop RGV movie

Families of four youths, the accused in the rape and murder of a veterinarian and killed by police in an alleged encounter last year, have approached the Supreme Court-appointed inquiry commission, seeking orders to stop the making of a movie on the incident.

Relatives of Mohammed Arif, Jollu Naveen, Jollu Shiva and Chennakeshavulu, along with advocate Kana Rajani, met the Commission at its office on the Telangana High Court premises here on Monday.

They urged the Commission to issue orders to stop Ram Gopal Varma's film, slated to be released by the end of this month, saying that the movie would cause more agony to them.

The families of the slain youth told the panel that the movie is violating their right to life and it would have an impact on them, especially young children.

They argued that the movie cannot be made when the inquiry is being conducted by the Commission.

The four youth, all lorry workers, were killed by police in an encounter on December 6 at Chatanpally village in Shadnagar, where they had dumped and burnt the body of the victim after sexually assaulting her on the outskirts of Hyderabad on November 27.

Controversial filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is making the movie with the title "Disha Encounter".

The family of the victim has already approached the High Court with the same plea. The girl's parents accused Varma of trying to make money out of their pain even as they were yet to come out of shock of the brutal rape and murder of their daughter.

Last month, the High Court had disposed of a plea by the victim's father saying it is premature.

The court felt it cannot give any direction even before the movie makers approach the Censor Board for certification of the film.

Varma has already released the trailer of the movie on social media platforms. The trailer has attracted 3.7 million views since its launch a month ago.

According to the promo, the movie will be released on November 26.