‘Singham’ Film Gave “Very Dangerous Message”, Says Bombay High Court Judge

Mumbai:  The image of a “hero cop” providing immediate justice without bothering the law of the land as shown in blockbuster films like “Singham”, caters a very harmful message, said Justice Gautam Patel of the Bombay High Court said on Friday.

Speaking at a function organised by the Indian Police Foundation to mark Police Reforms Day, Justice Patel said,

The image of police as “bullies, corrupt and unaccountable” is a populist one. “When the public thinks that the courts are not doing their job, it celebrates when the police step in”, the judge said.

“In movies, police rail against judges who are shown as docile, timid, thickly-spectacled and often very badly dressed. They accuse courts of letting the guilty go. The hero cop delivers justice single-handedly,” he said.

“Singham movie has especially shown in its climax scene where the entire police force descends on the politician played by Prakash Raj…and shows that justice has now been served. But I ask, has it,” Justice Patel said.

Singham (2011) starring Ajay Devgan, is an action drama directed by Rohit Shetty. It is a remake of the 2010 Tamil film of the same title.