New Delhi, Mar 25: The Delhi Chief Electoral Office on Monday said it was awaiting a reply from the makers of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scheduled to be released on April 5, after it felt that the film violated the model code of conduct.

East Delhi Returning Officer K Mahesh, had on March 20, suo motu issued notices to the production house and music company behind the film "PM Narendra Modi" and two leading newspapers for publishing advertisements of the film.

Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said the concerned parties have been given time till March 30 to respond.

He said the broad position is that any political advertisement circulated on electronic media or social media has to be pre-certified by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee.

"If any pre-certified political or surrogate advertisement is circulated, it is a violation of model code of conduct. Whoever has done it is given an opportunity to explain their stand," the official said.

The returning officer also suggested that the Election Commission of India (ECI) could form guidelines for political films released during elections.

"We are looking into it. We will send the recommendations to the poll body," Singh said.

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Shivamogga (Karnataka) (PTI): Thirty-six people were injured on Monday after a private bus allegedly went out of control and plunged off a bridge in the district, police said.

The incident occurred at around 1.30 pm near Kagehalla in Veerapura village of Bhadravati taluk, they said.

According to police, the bus was travelling from Channagiri in Davanagere district to Bhadravati when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle near a bridge across a stream.

The bus hit the bridge’s side barrier and overturned into the stream below, which had a very low water level.

A total of 36 people, including the driver and conductor, were injured in the accident, a senior police officer said.

Of them, 25 sustained minor injuries and were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, he added.

A case has been registered at the Bhadravati Rural police station, and further investigation is underway, police said.