Freedom Fighter Gopal Patha's Grandson Moves Calcutta High Court Against Alleged 'Dishonourable' Portrayal Of Grandfather In Bengal Files Movie

Shantanu Mukherjee, the grandson of freedom fighter Gopal Chandra Mukherjee alias 'Gopal Patha' has moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the portrayal of his grandfather in Vivek Agnihotri's film the Bengal Files.

According to the plea, the matter pertains to the gross victimisation of the petitioner by the state through indifference meted out to him over his plea before the police, the CBFC and a Board Member of the CBFC, and maker of the film, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri about the, “outright despicable depiction of his late grandfather the famous freedom fighter Gopal Chandra Mukherjee being propagated through an upcoming fim titled The Bengal Files.”

The petitioner also sent an RTI application to the Central Board of Film Certification but till date no reply to the same had been received.

It is said that the petitioner sent a legal notice to director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri seeking clarification as to why the petitioner's late grandfather Sri Gopal Chandra Mukherjee was wilfully and maliciously defamed before the world at large but had received no reply despite the fact that Agnihotri admittted in an interview that he had received a lawful communiqué from the petitioner's Advocate regarding the depiction of the late Gopal Chandra Mukherjee.

The petitioner also sent a written complaint to the Bowbazar Police Station on 18.07.2025 and again on 23.08.2025 but till date the police had taken no tangible steps to provide any relief regarding the same nor has any visible steps been taken to stop the dissemination of misinformation before the world through Youtube and other means.

The petitioner had aiso sent an RTI application to the Central Board of Film Certification(CBFC) on 12.08.2025 but till date no reply with regard to the petitioner's questions had been given.

Accordingly, the writ petitioner filed this writ petition to seek adequate legal measures against the arbitrary indifference of the state authorities and the CBFC.

The plea thus seeks direction on the CBFC to initiate a probe into and disclose the findings as to what standards were followed and which Board Members took part in evaluating the suitability of the movie, as well as the role of Vivek Agnihotri in the release of the said movie. It also seeks a direction for Agnihotri to step down from his position as the Board Member(Mumbai) of the CBFC as long as the probe lasts to ensure its impartiality.

The petitioner also seeks removal of any and all content on YouTube or any other social media that tarnishes the reputation of his family, and all necessary changes/cuts in the movie where Gopal Mukherjee is allegedly depicted dishonourably.