KATHMANDU, Feb. 19 -- The Patan High Court has banned the promotion and publicity of the film 'Laj Sharanam' on social media and through media outlets, as it prepares for release.

Hearing a writ petition filed by former minister Mohammad Aftab Alam, a division bench of Justices Lal Bahadur Kunwar and Hemant Rawal issued an interim order on Tuesday, according to Arjun Prasad Acharya, the information officer of the High Court.

Former Minister Alam filed the petition, naming the Film Development Board as the respondent and alleging that the film used a character resembling his own face without his permission.

In the petition, he claimed the film closely imitated his facial features, attire, physical build, hairstyle, mannerisms and speech...