A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was submitted to the Delhi High Court on Monday, September 2, calling for a ban on the OTT series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’. The petitioner argues that the series distorts facts by inaccurately depicting the hijackers with Hindu names like Bhola and Shankar, which, according to the plea, offends the sentiments of the Hindu community.
The PIL, filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, a farmer and the president of Hindu Sena, urges the Delhi High Court to instruct the Central and Maharashtra governments to revoke the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) approval and stop the public screening of the series.
The petition emphasizes that misrepresenting the real identities of the hijackers not only falsifies historical events but also spreads harmful stereotypes and misinformation. It calls for the court’s intervention to prevent further public confusion and potential harm.
Delhi High Court PIL Seeks Ban on OTT Series ‘IC 814
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday, demanding a ban on the OTT series “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack” due to allegations of factual inaccuracies regarding the identities of the hijackers. The plea claims that the series incorrectly portrays the real hijackers with Hindu names like ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar,’ which are also associated with Lord Shiva, causing distress to the Hindu community.
The petition, submitted by Surjit Singh Yadav, a farmer and the president of Hindu Sena, requests the court to direct the Centre and the Maharashtra government to revoke the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate and prohibit the series from being publicly viewed.
According to the petition, “The misrepresentation of key facts about the hijackers’ identities not only distorts historical events but also spreads harmful stereotypes and misinformation, necessitating the court’s intervention to prevent further public confusion and potential damage.”
In response, the central government has summoned the content head of Netflix India, the platform hosting the series, following a public outcry over the portrayal of the hijackers, arguing that no one should be allowed to manipulate national sentiments.
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Netflix India Chief Summoned Over ‘IC 814’ Controversy
Netflix India’s content head, Monika Shergill, has been summoned by the government amid controversy surrounding the depiction of hijackers in the web series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.’ Shergill is scheduled to appear before the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 3 to address concerns raised about the series.
The web series, which dramatizes the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 by the Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, has faced backlash on social media. The controversy arose after it was noted that two of the hijackers were referred to by their Hindu code names, sparking a debate over the portrayal of the characters.
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FAQs
Q.1. What is the controversy surrounding ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’?
Ans. The series is accused of inaccurately depicting the hijackers with Hindu names, sparking outrage for allegedly distorting historical facts and offending Hindu sentiments.
Q.2. Who filed the PIL against the OTT series ‘IC 814’?
Ans. Surjit Singh Yadav, a farmer and president of Hindu Sena, filed the PIL seeking a ban on the series for misrepresentation.
Q.3. What action has the Delhi High Court been requested to take regarding the series?
Ans. The PIL requests the Delhi High Court to revoke the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate and stop the public screening of the series.
Q.4. Why has Netflix India’s content head been summoned by the government?
Ans. Monika Shergill has been summoned to address concerns over the portrayal of hijackers in ‘IC 814,’ which has sparked controversy and a PIL in court.
Q.5. What are the potential consequences of the misrepresentation in the ‘IC 814’ series?
Ans. The petition argues that misrepresentation could spread harmful stereotypes, distort historical events, and cause public confusion, leading to potential harm.
