The Supreme Court came down heavily on filmmaker and television entertainment baroness Ekta Kapoor today for “objectionable content” in her web series XXX, saying she was polluting the minds of the young generation of this country. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by Kapoor that challenged the arrest warrants issued against her for allegedly insulting soldiers and hurting the sentiments of their families in the web series aired on her OTT platform ALTBalaji.
“Something has to be done. You are polluting the minds of the young generation of this country. It is available to all. OTT (Over The Top) content is available to all. What kind of choice are you providing to the people?… On the contrary, you are polluting the minds of youngsters,” a Supreme Court bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and CT Ravikumar said.
The highest court made the observation after Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Kapoor, submitted that a petition had been filed before the Patna High Court but there was no hope the matter would be listed for hearing soon. He said the top court had earlier granted protection to Kapoor in a similar matter.
Rohatgi said the content was subscription-based and that there was freedom of choice in this country.
The highest court, which stopped short of imposing costs, then wondered what kind of choice was being given to people. “Every time you travel to this court….we don’t appreciate this. We will put a cost on you for filing such a petition. Mr Rohatgi, please convey this to your client. Just because you can afford and hire the services of good lawyers… this court is not for those who have voices.
“This court works for those who don’t have voices…if these people who have all kinds of facilities if they (sic) cannot get justice then think of the situation of this common man. We have seen the order and we have our reservations,” the Supreme Court observed.
The topmost court kept the matter pending and suggested a local lawyer may be put to work to know about the status of the hearing in the high court.
A trial court in Begusarai, Bihar, had issued the warrant on a complaint lodged by Shambhu Kumar, an ex-serviceman. Kumar, alleged in his complaint of 2020 that the web series XXX (Season-2) featured several objectionable scenes related to a soldier’s wife.
