IC814: The Kandahar Hijack row: PIL in Delhi HC seeks ban on Netflix’s web-series

Amid ongoing row over the filmmaker Anubhav Sinha's 'IC814: The Kandahar Hijack', a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to ban the Netflix web series was filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday.

According to news agency ANI, the PIL alleges that the series distorts the actual identities of the terrorists involved in the hijacking.

The series, based on real events, dramatizes the hijacking by the Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The controversy stems from the decision to use aliases such as ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ for the terrorists involved, rather than their real names.

The petition filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, a farmer and president of Hindu Sena, sought a direction to the Centre and Maharashtra government to cancel the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate and ban the public viewing of the series.

“The distortion of crucial facts about the real identities of the hijackers not only misrepresents historical events but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misinformation, warranting interference of this court to prevent further public misunderstanding and potential harm,” the petition says.

Notably, the government has summoned the content head of Netflix over the series, contending that nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the nation.

News agency PTI, citing official sources said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has summoned the content head of Netflix India on Tuesday, seeking an explanation on the allegedly contentious aspects of the series.

"Nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the people of this nation. Indian culture and civilisation should always be respected," PTI cited saying another official source.

"Should we allow any foreign people to slipshod over our cultural values," the source told PTI said without elaborating.

PTI, citing sources, said filmmakers have to think before portraying something in a wrong manner. "You may be liberal, but you cannot portray institutions in a wrong manner."