Kochi: The Kerala High Court was informed on Friday that online ticket bookings for The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond were still available despite an interim order staying the film’s release, even as the matter awaited a decision from a division bench.
The submissions were made before Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas on behalf of the petitioners, Sreedev Namboodiri and Freddy Francis, whose petitions had led the court to halt the release for 15 days a day earlier.
Counsel for the petitioners said the producer had filed an appeal before a division bench later that night, but no interim relief had been granted permitting the film’s release. The division bench, comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice P V Balakrishnan, was reported to have reserved its order after hearing arguments from all sides, TNIE reported.
It was further pointed out that bookings remained open on online platforms such as BookMyShow on Friday morning, raising concerns that screenings might take place in violation of the stay. The petitioners indicated they would verify whether any shows were held and consider contempt proceedings if the order had been breached.
They also noted that the film was listed as available in multiple theatres in Mumbai and Delhi, while no shows were visible in Kochi. The film was not found on the District app.
While ordering the interim stay, Justice Thomas observed that there appeared, prima facie, to have been a lack of proper application of mind by the Central Board of Film Certification to legal requirements. He further noted that the film seemed to involve the potential for communal disharmony or denigration of a community, and that releasing it without scrutiny by higher authorities would be legally inappropriate.