While his latest film, Ustaad Bhagat Singh, became a huge failure that came as a shock to PSPK fans, another legal challenge emerged for the Deputy Chief Minister. The High Court has dismissed a petition seeking to ban Pawan Kalyan from acting in films while serving in office.
Justice Venkata Jyotirmayi delivered the verdict on Tuesday, bringing relief to the actor-turned-politician who recently took charge as Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh.
The Petition Against Pawan Kalyan
The petition was filed by former IAS officer Vijay Kumar, who requested an independent investigation into allegations that Pawan Kalyan used government funds and official machinery to promote his film Hari Hara Veeramallu and other commercial activities.
During the final hearing, Advocate B. Balayya, representing the petitioner, argued that it was unethical for a sitting Deputy Chief Minister to act in films. He alleged that Pawan Kalyan violated legal provisions while approving ticket price hikes for Hari Hara Veeramallu and misused his position to promote commercial interests.
Government’s Response
In response, Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas and Additional Advocate General Sambasiva Pratap stated that there is no legal restriction preventing a Chief Minister or ministers from acting in films. They clarified that the decision to increase ticket prices for Hari Hara Veeramallu was made by the government after considering the producer’s request.
They further argued that the petition against Pawan Kalyan acting in films was not legally maintainable and should be dismissed. This isn’t the first time Pawan Kalyan has moved to the courts regarding legal matters.
Court’s Final Verdict
Agreeing with the government’s submissions, the High Court dismissed the petition, ruling that there are no constitutional or legal barriers preventing a sitting minister from pursuing an acting career. The verdict allows Pawan Kalyan to continue balancing his dual roles as Deputy Chief Minister and actor.