Ex-bandit files PIL against Sonchiriya for ‘plagiarism’

Bhopal: Ex-bandit Malkhan Singh, who had unleashed a reign of terror in the Chambal valley in 1970s has dragged a Bollywood movie Sonchiriya, released on Friday, to the court for ‘plagiarising’ his biography.

Septuagenarian Malkhan, who had amassed 94 cases, including 17 cases of murder, 19 cases of attempt to murder, 28 cases of kidnapping and 18 cases of robbery by the time he surrendered before the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Arjun Singh in 1982, has filed a petition in Gwalior high court seeking screening of the movie before him.

Script of the movie has been taken from “my” biography, Malkhan — The Story of Bandit King, Malkhan claimed in his petition.

Grandson of dreaded Chambal dacoit Man Singh who was killed by Gurkha troops in the valley in 1955, has also moved the Madhya Pradesh high court making similar plea contending that his grandfather was projected wrongly in the movie.

Man Singh, born into a Rajput family, was credited with 1112 robberies and 185 murders including 32 police officers. His infamous crew of 17 comprised mostly his sons.