Bombay HC grants three weeks transit pre-arrest bail to Tandav makers | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Bombay HC grants three weeks transit pre-arrest bail to Tandav makers

By, Mumbai
Jan 21, 2021 02:16 AM IST

The Bombay high court (HC) on Wednesday granted a three-week transit pre-arrest bail to Tandav director Ali Abbas Zafar and producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra and writer Gaurav Solanki. Similar relief was also granted to Aparna Purohit, head of content, Amazon Prime.

The Bombay high court (HC) on Wednesday granted a three-week transit pre-arrest bail to Tandav director Ali Abbas Zafar and producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra and writer Gaurav Solanki. Similar relief was also granted to Aparna Purohit, head of content, Amazon Prime. The four have been booked in a first information report (FIR) filed by the Lucknow Police based on a complaint by senior sub-inspector Amar Nath Yadav who alleged that the web series portrays Hindu gods in a bad light.

Bombay high court. (HT FILE)
Bombay high court. (HT FILE)

A single-judge bench of justice Prakash D Naik was informed by senior counsel Aabad Ponda and advocate Aniket Nikam that the FIR does not make any direct/indirect allegations against the applicants in their individual capacity. “The FIR also does not portray any role/intent whatsoever to the applicant for having committed any offence, under which the FIR is registered,” submitted the counsels.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The makers of Tandav have been booked under sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), 505 (1) (B) (public mischief with intent to cause fear or alarm) and 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Information Technology Act.

The application by the makers of the web series state, “The applicants have come to learn that the said FIR was registered on January 17, 2021 at 11.46pm and that the police authorities of the concerned police station are currently travelling to Mumbai to arrest the applicants in pursuance of the same.” The bench was informed that the content in question has been removed and the makers do not want to give rise to any further controversy.

Purohit’s plea, which is filed separately, states, “The web series and the characters thereof in no manner depict/portray or represent any gods and/or goddesses of any religion whatsoever.”

Additional public prosecutor Yogesh Nakhwa opposed the applications stating that the accused should approach Hazratganj court in Lucknow and seek similar relief instead of approaching the Bombay HC.

After hearing the submissions, the bench granted transitory anticipatory bail of three weeks to the four to enable them to approach the court in Lucknow for regular pre-arrest bail and disposed of the applications.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On