In Prayagraj, PVR employees beat up a Dalit journalist who had come to take a review of the film “Phule” from the audience, the video went viral, a case was registered

Journalist who came to review the film ‘Phule’ in PVR Prayagraj was beaten up, Dalit journalist said – ‘Is taking a review a crime?’

Published on: 01 May 2025, 1:25 pm

Uttar Pradesh: A case has come to light in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) district where journalist Sanjay Ambedkar was beaten up by PVR employees when he had come to take audience review of the film “Phule” on 29 April. The Dalit journalist alleged that despite the film being screened, the posters and advertisements related to the film were not visible in PVR. Apart from this, when he tried to talk to the audience who had come to watch the film, the employees and bouncers of PVR started beating him up. 

The video of the incident is now on social mediaviralThis is happening. On which people are demanding strict action against PVR employees. 

Last Tuesday, about half past two in the afternoon”Bhimraj KnockingSanjay Ambedkar, who runs his own YouTube channel by the name of “Phule” reaches the campus of PVR Cinema in Prayagraj. The movie Phule was playing in the cinema hall, but no poster or advertisement of the movie “Phule” is visible. Sanjay eagerly tries to talk to the audience coming there, but the employees of PVR start stopping him. 

But when people did not stop taking their opinion, they started beating the journalist. Sanjay tells The Mooknayak , “I had come here to review the movie Phule. I was talking to people who were returning after watching the movie. While I was reviewing the movie, I was suddenly stopped.” 

Sanjay told that he was taking reviews of the film from people in the PVR premises. When the workers there stopped him, he stood aside. But seeing this, the people who had come to watch the film got angry, due to which they started beating the journalist and his colleague as well. 

Sanjay Ambedkar said, “There were two of us there. One was me and the other was my friend Ravi. When those people (PVR workers) caught Ravi Kumar, I started shouting, ‘Why did you people catch him?’ When I stopped them from doing so, I was also chased and beaten. We were taken to the third floor and abused. We were beaten. Somehow I saved my life and came out from there. Those people had taken Ravi hostage. When I came out, I informed the administration. Then Ravi was released after half an hour.”

Sanjay Ambedkar said that the incident was completely recorded on camera.RecordAll these people are workers and bouncers of PVR. “We have lodged a complaint. An FIR has also been registered. An investigation will take place today,” Sanjay told The Muknayak . 

Expressing his fear over this incident, Sanjay said, “Journalists are being attacked across the country. In Fatehpur, journalist Dilip Saini was stabbed to death. Mukesh Chandrakar was murdered. In Sitapur, Raghavendra Bajpai was gunned down. Journalists are not safe in the Yogi government. Is it a crime to review a film?”

On Wednesday, DCP Prayagraj City’s official statement was released on a viral video of the incidentAxe HandleHe informed that, “On the basis of the complaint received in connection with the above case, a case has been registered under relevant sections in Civil Lines police station, further legal proceedings are underway.”

Based on a complaint letter given by journalist Sanjay’s associate Ravi Kumar, the police on Wednesday registered a case against unknown PVR employees under sections 115(2), 352, 351(2), 351(3), 309(4) of the Indian Justice Code (BNS), 2023 and sections 3(2)(v), 3(1)d, 3(1)d of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989 (Amendment 2015).

Let us tell you that the Phule film has already sparked controversy across the country. Many Brahmin organizations have boycotted the film and protested against it. Due to the protest, many changes have also been made in the film.