GUJRAT, Feb 25: A theatre hall owner has filed a Rs70 million defamation suit in a civil court against seven police officials including DPO for conducting an ‘illegal’ raid at his hall last year, it is learnt here on Saturday.

DPO Raja Munawar Hussain, city DSP Mahmoodul Hasan Qureshi, A-Division police station SHO Masood Ahmad Bhatti, Civil Lines SHO Ihsan Zafar Sindhu, Elite Force Inspector Asad Cheema, Shaheen post in charge Saeed Ahmad and Lorry Adda post in charge Mohammad Safdar Qureshi have been nominated as respondents in the case filed by Waqar Hussain Jorra who owns the theatre at Ali Pura road.

Mr Hussain stated in his petition that he launched a Punjabi stage play at his hall with the permission of the provincial home department and DCO office on Aug 5, 2005. During the play’s second show, he stated, while the artistes were performing in front of around 500 audience, the respondents, excluding the DPO, raided the hall along with a heavy police contingent and arrested the performers and a large number of spectators.

The police had claimed that the raid was conducted because some of the female performers were allegedly wearing flimsy clothes and the audience were found watching obscene dances.

The petitioner stated that the actors and actresses were performing with in the set rules and regulations. He said the civil lines police registered a case under sections 292 and 294 of the PPC on Aug 6, 2005.

He further stated that the respondents highlighted their ‘illegal’ raid in print and electronic media.

Later, the petitioner moved the Lahore High Court which declared the police raid as illegal on Oct 14, 2006.

The petitioner said due to the illegal act of police, his reputation as well as the business had been affected badly.

The court has fixed Feb 28 for the hearing of the case.