Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has rejected the appeal filed by former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao, seeking to stop the release of the film Costao, produced by Bhanushali Studios Limited and Bombay Fables Motion Pictures.
Alemao had requested a temporary injunction to prevent further production and release of the movie, claiming it was defamatory to him and his family.
He argued that the film was based on an incomplete account of a real-life event involving him and would harm his public image, reputation, and political standing.
In his petition, Alemao also demanded compensation of Rs 100 crore for alleged defamation and requested that the film be screened in the presence of the court and his family before its official release.
He argued that the film inaccurately depicted his involvement in a gold smuggling case, a claim he denied.
However, the filmmakers clarified that Costao was a fictionalized story inspired by a real incident and the Supreme Court’s judgment from 1996.
They emphasized that the film was not intended to be a factual recount and carried a disclaimer stating that any resemblance to real persons was coincidental.
The High Court further pointed out that Alemao had failed to include the media houses responsible for the news reports he cited as defendants in his case, despite seeking relief against them.
As a result, the court dismissed Alemao’s appeal and allowed the film’s release to proceed.
