Web series Mirzapur lands in legal tangle now

Web series Mirzapur lands in legal tangle now

An FIR has been registered at an Uttar Pradesh police station for offensive content, hurting religious sentiments and showing illicit relationships against the producers

Tryst of Indian filmmakers with frivolous complains continue unabated with Amazon Prime's web series Mirzapur, a popular action-crime thriller, is the latest in the list.

Police in Uttar Pradesh town Mirzapur has registered a first information report (FIR) against the producers and the OTT platform (Amazon Prime) based on a complaint of one Arvind Chaturvedi at Mirazpur Kotwali (Dehat) police station.

The complainant says that the web series has hurt religious sentiments, promotes social enmity, showcases abusive content and presents illicit relationships to the public.

Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar and Bhaumik Gondaliya are producers of the web series.

Mirzapur was released in two parts containing nine and 10 episodes each in 2018 and 2020 respectively. The third part of the popular web series is currently under production and is expected to be released sometime this year.

"Arvind Chaturvedi alleged that the web series has shown abusive content and illicit relations. Thus, based on the complaint, an FIR has been registered against producers and the platform," Mirzapur Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar was quoted by an English daily while confirming the development.

FIR has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) such as Section 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), Section 505 (statements conducing to public mischief). Various sections of the Information Technology Act have also been invoked in the FIR.

Web series and some OTT platforms became a popular rage following the Coronavirus pandemic-inducted lockdown and the subsequent restrictions in theatres in order to maintain social distancing. Many films with big star casts were released on the OTT platforms while the inflow of new web-exclusive series and films have started a new trend and business opportunity for those associated with the silver screen.

It has, however, brought with it some amount of criticism as well. Unlike films meant for theatre release, there was no mechanism in place to monitor and certify their content. With ever-increasing complaints against them by those who felt offended by the content of such shows, the central government brought all online content providers and news providers under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in November 2020. While the ministry is still grappling with how to enforce controversy-free content, people are taking recourse to file FIRs and complaints in courts.

Most of such complaints are frivolous in nature meant merely to gain publicity and they either fail the judicial scrutiny or cases are closed after out of court "settlement" or tendering of apology.

"Films and audio-visual programmes made available by online platforms and news and current affairs content on online platforms would be brought under the heading 'Ministry of Information and Broadcasting' in the Second Schedule of Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961," a gazette notification, issued on 10 November 2020 and approved by President Ram Nath Kovind, said.