Did Dhurandhar reveal India’s tactical, sensitive info?:Delhi HC directs Centre to review allegations of compromise to national security

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to treat a PIL alleging that the film Dhurandhar: The Revenge reveals tactical and sensitive information related to India’s intelligence and defence operations as a representation. A Bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that while films are primarily made for entertainment, their impact on society cannot be ignored. “The Censor Board should have some guidelines. We want you to consider this representation and take an informed decision,” the Bench orally remarked during the hearing. Centre, CBFC must take an informed decision Dismissing the petition, the court said the concerns raised by the petitioner required appropriate consideration. “This court is of the opinion that the concerns raised by the petitioner need to be considered and addressed appropriately,” the order stated. The court directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the CBFC to treat the entire writ petition as a formal representation and take an appropriate decision on the issues flagged in it. The authorities were also asked to communicate their decision, along with any corrective measures, to the petitioner. PIL alleges violation of the Official Secrets Act The petition was filed by an SSB personnel, who alleged that the film violated the Official Secrets Act by depicting tactical operations, sensitive locations and intelligence agents in significant detail. According to the plea, some scenes allegedly disclose information that is not in the interest of national security. The petitioner further argued that certain characters and sequences appeared to be modelled on high-ranking officials and martyred servicemen, making the portrayal “too explicit” and potentially harmful to national interests. The plea also alleged that the movie recreates certain successful military operations and showcases “classified protocols” and “deep cover identities”. Plea seeks ‘spy movies protocol’, revocation of certification The petitioner claimed the film had “directly compromised the safety of on-field undercover agents” and even led local authorities in Karachi to remain on “spy alert”. The PIL sought the formulation of a separate “spy movies protocol” to regulate the depiction of intelligence operations and undercover methods in films. It also sought cancellation of the certification granted to the film and a stay on its release across cinema halls and OTT platforms. ​