Agnihotri, Joshi Seek Quashing of FIRs Against ‘The Bengal Files’ in Calcutta High Court

Kolkata: Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and producer Pallavi Joshi have moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking the dismissal of two FIRs lodged against their upcoming film The Bengal Files. The couple filed a petition before the single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta on Thursday, arguing that the cases are unfounded and aimed at curbing creative freedom.

The FIRs were registered in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district and at Lake Town police station in Kolkata shortly after the teaser of the film was released. According to the complaints, the film may contain content that could potentially incite communal tensions in the state.

Joshi, who is producing the film, joined Agnihotri in urging the court to strike down the FIRs, contending that the accusations are speculative and that the film has not yet been released. They argue that preventive legal action against a work of art undermines the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.

The Bengal Files is anticipated to be the concluding installment in Agnihotri’s politically charged “Files” trilogy, which includes The Tashkent Files (2019) and the controversial The Kashmir Files (2022). Both previous films generated significant public and political reactions for their sensitive subject matter.

This legal battle is unfolding in a state where tensions between the film industry and the West Bengal government have previously come to the fore. In May 2023, the Mamata Banerjee-led administration imposed a ban on the screening of The Kerala Story, citing concerns over communal harmony. The Supreme Court later overturned the ban, calling it an unjustified restriction on free speech and artistic liberty.

The current petition adds to ongoing debates around censorship, state intervention, and the role of cinema in public discourse. The High Court is expected to review the petition in detail in the coming days, as legal and civil liberties advocates closely watch the outcome.