SC Grants Interim Protection To Ekta Kapoor From Arrest In FIR Over Web-series XXX Season 2

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim protection to producer Ekta Kapoor against an FIR registered by Anapurna police. The FIR was filed against Kapoor for alleged objectionable content in the web series 'XXX' season two which is on Zee 5 which is being promoted by ALT Balaji, a concern owned by Kapoor and her mother.

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The Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed Ekta Kapoor's plea seeking quashing of the FIR. It was registered against her in Indore. Following the dismissal, the TV Czarina Kapoor filed a petition before the Apex Court. The plea was heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde.

According to reports, Valmik Sakaragaye filed the FIR against Ekta Kapoor and two others in Indore for allegedly spreading obscenity and hurting religious feelings with her web series 'XXX' season 2.

What You Should Know

• An FIR was filed against producer Ekta Kapoor in Indore for alleged objectionable content in a web series streaming on ALT Balaji.
• The Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed her plea for quashing the complaint registered against her.
• On Thursday, SC granted her interim protection from arrest.

Interim Bail To Ekta Kapoor

Kapoor has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and IT Act. She was booked under sections 294 (obscene acts and songs) and 298 (Uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person) & 34 of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 67 (Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) and 67-A (Punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc. in electronic form of the Information Technology (IT) Act and Section 3 ( Prohibition of improper use of emblem) of the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005.

Kapoor moved to the Madhya Pradesh HC stating that she did not have any knowledge about the content of the web series as she is neither the director nor the producer of the series. She mentioned that her name is also not there in the credits of the episodes. This statement was rejected by the High Court citing that Kapoor being the Managing Director of the platform is "presumed to have knowledge" about the contents of the episode.

In respect to the case, the Apex Court said that the matter is  "premature" as the investigation is still on and no charge sheet has been filed yet. Till the further turn of events, Kapoor has been granted interim protection from arrest.

Also Read: Ekta Kapoor Dissociates Herself From Pavitra Rishta Fund After Facing Backlash

Sanskriti Tiwari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.