Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Supreme Court remarked that the Over-the-Top (OTT) platform series/movies should have some screenings as some content have pornographic content. Recently during the hearing of a plea by Amazon Prime Video India head Aparna Purohit against Allahabad High Court order which was declined to entertain the anticipatory bail in connection with FIRs lodged against over ‘Tandav’ series, the observation was made by the top court.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan stated that there should be some screening of content on web platforms as there is pornography in some films. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government stated that some programs have nasty scenes and abuses.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Purohit, quarreled this is as a matter of free speech and mentioned that his client ( Purohit) is not the producer of the show, instead of an employee of the company which is streaming the web series Tandav.
Aparna Purohit is facing multiple FIRs by the Noida police for the alleged derogatory depiction of Hindu deities in the web series ‘Tandav’ streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The High Court had supported the rejection because a case had been fully made out against Purohit under sections 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.), 153-A(b) [Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony] and 153-A(b), 505(1)(b) and 505(2) [Statements conducing to public mischief] of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The judge also stated that the western filmmakers have abstained from mimicking Lord Jesus or the Prophet but Hindi filmmakers have done this repeatedly and are still doing this most unabashedly with Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
News Source – ANI
Image Source – Google
