The Supreme Court on Thursday fined the Bengal government Rs 20 lakh for the “virtual” banning of Bhobishyoter Bhoot, a political satire directed by Anik Dutta.

A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud ordered the amount to be distributed among the producers of the film and the owners of the cinemas from where it was pulled out, as compensation for the violation of their right to freedom of speech and expression.

The film was taken off screens a day after its release on February 15, with theatre owners alleging that police had ordered the step.

The apex court was hearing a plea filed by the producers and others seeking a direction to the state government and its various wings, including the home department, and also the commissioner of Calcutta police to refrain from causing any obstruction to unhindered screening of the film.

On March 15, the court had directed Bengal’s chief secretary, home secretary and the director-general of police to ensure unhindered screening of Bhobishyoter Bhoot.

It also ordered that “proper arrangements of security” be made to “facilitate screening of the film and to ensure viewers and audience are not in danger and there is no danger to the property of the theatre where the film is screened”.

On March 26, the court had directed the government to issue a circular “forthwith” to all theatres stating that “there is no ban on the screening” of the film.

The film was certified for public viewing by the Central Board of Film Certification on November 19, 2018.

The special branch of the state police had written to one of the producers stating that the contents of the film might hurt public sentiments and lead to law and order issues.

The petition had stated that the film was taken off the screens of the majority of the theatres where it had been released.

Asked about the order fining the state government Rs 20 lakh, Indira Unninayar, one of the producers of Bhobishyoter Bhoot, said they were “grateful and happy” that the Supreme Court had viewed the matter with the seriousness it deserved.

“We dared to hope for justice.... The government — not only of Bengal, but of various states as well as the Union — routinely trample upon citizens’ fundamental rights. The state acts as if these rights belong to it and it is merely doling them out to its citizens. This judgment is landmark as it holds that the state cannot, surreptitiously, impose these ‘virtual’ or ‘unofficial’ bans from behind the scene and pretend that it had nothing to do with it,” she said.

Director Dutta, too, termed the verdict “landmark”. On a lighter note, he said: “I don’t know whether the film would have done as well as it is doing right now without the ban!”

Bhobishyoter Bhoot revolves around ghosts who wish to make themselves relevant in the future by rescuing the marginalised and the obsolete.

Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Moon Moon Sen, Koushik Sen, Barun Chanda and Paran Bandyopadhyay are among those who have acted in the film.