Indian documentary filmmaker wins suit against New York City

Rakesh Sharma, an Indian documentary filmmaker who was detained by the New York police two years ago for videotaping in the city, has won a legal battle against the American city after which restrictions on filming there have been lifted.

Washington, May 25 : Rakesh Sharma, an Indian documentary filmmaker who was detained by the New York police two years ago for videotaping in the city, has won a legal battle against the American city after which restrictions on filming there have been lifted.

New York city authorities lifted the ban on filming in the city with a handheld video camera after the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a suit on behalf of Sharma.

According to the Dawn, in a settlement announced this week, New York City has agreed to create, for the first time, written rules governing the issuance of permits for filmmakers and photographers. Under the new rules, filmmakers and photographers using hand-held equipment will be no longer required to obtain city permits or to have an insurance of one million dollars.

Sharma was detained for several hours in May 2005 for filming in midtown Manhattan with a handheld video camera.

Police told him that a film permit was required for videotaping in the city. After this, he applied to the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcast for the same, but his application was denied.

ANI